The City of Fremantle presently has a ban on circuses that use animals. This means that circuses that use any animals in their shows are not allowed to perform within the City. The ban has been in place since at least 1996 and was last re-affirmed in 2006. There is now a proposal to lift the ban or put it out for public consultation, which could easily lead to the ban being overturned. The Council will vote on this proposal on Wednesday September 28 2011.

It is hugely important that Fremantle Council receives the message that circuses that use animals are not welcome. Contact the City of Fremantle via the details at this website and voice your support for the ban remaining in place. Please get in touch with Fremantle Council immediately as they will be voting on this on Wednesday September 28 2011.

Other locales in Western Australia that have a ban on circuses that use exotic animals are Armadale, Bayswater, Cambridge, Denmark, Jerramungup, Kalamunda, Mosman Park, Mandurah, Peppermint Grove, Perth, Swan, Victoria Park, Vincent, Wanneroo, and Woodaniling. If your Council does not appear on this list please get in touch with your local councillor(s) to find out their position on circuses that use animals and ask them and the above to support a total ban on animal circuses (exotic and domestic) within your local area.

This website contains more information about the way animals are used in Australian circuses including the terrible treatment suffered by some animals at the hands of their supposed carers. However, even if circus treats the animals it holds captive in ways that are ‘nice’ the fact remains that there is nothing defensible about using a fellow sentient being merely as something for your own amusement.  Please contact your local council today and voice your support for a ban in your city, town or shire.

As supporters of animal rights we understand and accept that other beings do not exist to be used for our pleasure, out of convenience to us or because of our traditions. There is no justification for using another sentient earthling merely as a means to an end. Banning animal circuses does not solve the problem of animal exploitation but does send the message that exploitation – regardless of how ‘nice’ it might be – is unacceptable. If you believe that other animals exist for their own reasons then please put your beliefs into action by going vegan.