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tiger via shutterstock
Animal Rights
Kildare may have seen its last ever animal circus in the county
The motion, which goes before Kildare County Council, has the support of Mayor Fiona O’Loughlin.
KILDARE COUNTY COUNCIL is set to vote on a motion on whether to ban wild animal circuses from using public land for their performances.
The vote on the motion will be made over the next couple of hours.
The Irish Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) has written to all councillors on Kildare County Council to request that they vote in favour of the motion.
The organisation has expressed concerns about the use of large animals like tigers, lions, elephants and sea lions in circuses.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, Labour councilllor Aoife Breslin stated that she would be voting for the bill, and expected her party colleagues to do so.
On the matter she said, “it isn’t a natural environment for wild animals – it isn’t right. It isn’t the best quality of life for animals… I don’t think anyone in Labour will be voting against it.”
The motion was tabled by Sinn Feín councillor Sorcha O Neill and is also supported by Fianna Fáil councillor and Mayor of Kildare Fiona O’Loughlin.
On the issue, CEO of the ISPCA Dr Andrew Kelly, said:
The ISPCA is opposed to the use of wild animals in circuses on animal welfare and ethical grounds. It is simply not possible to provide an appropriate environment for a wild animal such as a tiger, lion, elephant or sea lion in a travelling circus.
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