NEWS RELEASE

From Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pitts

District 2, At-Large

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, April 20, 2012

 Media Contact: Harriet Thomas

404-612-8210

 www.fultoncountyga.gov

BULLHOOK BAN UPDATE

Commissioner Robb Pitts continues his efforts to ban the use of the bullhook in the City of Atlanta and all Fulton County jurisdictions, as provided by law.

In February, Fulton County Superior Court Judge John Goger issued a Temporary Restraining Order preventing Fulton County from enforcing the bullhook ban in the City of Atlanta, after a motion filed by Feld Entertainment, owners of Ringling Brothers Circus.

The Judge ordered a status report no later than May 15 indicating steps taken by the City of Atlanta and Fulton County to address how the ban would be enforced within the city limits.

At the request of Feld Entertainment, Commissioner Pitts met with Kenneth Feld, President/CEO, Thomas L. Elbert, Vice President/Government Relations, Lisa Joiner, Attorney and Crystal Drake, Regional Public Relations Manager, to discuss their concerns.

Mr. Feld indicated that the bullhook is essential to the circus because it protects the worker, it protects the public, it is used for training purposes and it is used for veterinary purposes.  Therefore, the circus could not exist without the bullhook.  However, Pitts believes that “alternative methods can be used in training elephants and in fact are used.”

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