EXOTIC ANIMALS ON DISPLAY AT WHISTLERS' BEARFOOT BISTRO NOV 11/05

Posted in General Discussion by nadinemsaunders on November 9, 2005 - 1:05pm

Mayor and Council
Resort Municipality of Whistler
4325 Blackcomb Way,
Whistler, BC, VON 1B4

Dear Mr. Mayor & Town Council,

I was saddened and disturbed to recently hear about an event being held at Whistler's Bearfoot Bistro. They are hosting an extravagant party called After Party MasqueRave this coming Friday, November 11, 2005.

On display, they will have live tigers from Siberian Magic, a group which claims to be doing endangered species 'education'. This hypocritical message is the trademark of the charlatan conservationist. Unfortunately, people are influenced by these glorified "pet" owners, whose actions, despite what they say, encourage the private ownership of exotic animals.

Basic common sense will tell you that exotic animals have no desire to be torn away from their families and homes and everything that is natural to them and put on display for our amusement-no matter how spacious and stimulating their enclosures or how loving their captors.

In addition to the ethical concerns which I have, I also worry about public safety at the event itself.

De-clawing, de-fanging and castrating are routinely performed, but the animals remain dangerous. Escaped animals can transmit unknown diseases to native wildlife, or establish themselves and throw the ecosystem off kilter.

There have been several instances of exotic animals either escaping their confinement, or seriously harming humans:

1994: Ontario: - Death of 16-year-old Graydon Edwards, who was crushed by tigers owned by his uncle in Ontario
1990: Mississauga, Ont. - A 600 pound tiger escaped for 10 minutes from the Shrine Circus.
1991: Oshawa, Ont. - A 450 pound tiger featured in Jane Jones Exotic Circus leapt on passersby on two different occasions.
I urge you to contact the organizers of this event, and ask that they consider cancelling this large wild animal display at their party.

I also urge you to please consider passing your own bylaws in Whistler. Several municipalities in BC have passed such bylaws, such as North Vancouver, New Westminster, Abbotsford, Courtenay and the Central Okanagan Regional District ( http://www.tracs-bc.ca/pdf/bylaw1028_exotic.pdf).

We shouldn't wait until there is another injury or death like the ones above, before Whistler takes a leadership role and shows the rest of BC that exotic animals have no place at parties.

We don't want to end up with another case of Roy Horn, of Siegfried & Roy.
We all know what a Siberian Tiger did to him.

Sincerely,
Nadine Saunders

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nadinemsaunders said,

November 9, 2005 - 4:57pm

Update on Whistler party at Bearfoot Bistro:

This afternoon, Bearfoot Bistro owner, Andre St. Jacques, decided to cancel Siberian Magic from the entertainment for their MasqueRave party this coming Friday. Live animals will no longer be a part of the night's festivities.

I'd like to thank all of the people who contacted the Bistro and local officials with your concerns. You really made a difference!

THANK YOU!

Nadine Saunders

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nadinemsaunders said,

November 9, 2005 - 1:09pm

Bearfoot Bistro
4121 Village Green
Whistler, BC V0N 1B4
Phone: 1-604-932-3433
Fax: 1-604-932-8383
Cell: 1-604-905-9934

Dear Mr. St. Jacques,

I recently found out that Bearfoot Bistro in Whistler, BC will be hosting an extravagant party called After Party MasqueRave this coming Friday.

I also heard that you will feature tigers from Siberian Magic.
This group claims to be doing endangered species education.
This hypocritical message is the trademark of the charlatan conservationist. Unfortunately, people are influenced by these glorified "pet" owners, whose actions, despite what they say, encourage the private ownership of exotic animals.

Basic common sense will tell you that exotic animals have no desire to be torn away from their families and homes and everything that is natural to them and put on display for our amusement-no matter how spacious and stimulating their enclosures or how loving their captors.

I do hope that you will reconsider using live tigers at this event.
A party with over 2000 people drinking and having a good time is not the place for a dangerous animal such as a tiger.

I'm quite certain that people will have a much better time if they are not worried about ending up like Roy Horn, of Siegfried & Roy fame.

Sincerely,
Nadine Saunders
Vancouver

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nadinemsaunders said,

November 9, 2005 - 1:06pm

This coming Friday, November 11th, Bearfoot Bistro in Whistler, BC is hosting an extravagant party called After Party MasqueRave, with a circus-like theme. The entertainment for the party will feature Siberian Magic with live tigers. Siberian Magic travels extensively in Canada, showing off tigers at malls or events. They charge for photographs taken with the tigers and claims to be doing endangered species education.

The capacity for the party will be 2000 people. It will be loud and crowded, and is a completely inappropriate environment. These tigers are being kept in captivity for entertainment purposes. They spend their lives chained and/or in small enclosures.

Please let the Bearfoot Bistro know of your opposition to the use of tigers for their party.

Contact:

Bearfoot Bistro
4121 Village Green
Whistler, BC V0N 1B4
Phone: 1-604-932-3433
Fax: 1-604-932-8383
Cell: 1-604-905-9934
email: Info@BearFootBistro.com
Owner: Andre St. Jacques

In expressing your opposition, it is more effective if they hear from individual citizens rather than mentioning that you heard about it from an organization. VHS has already made its opposition clear, but the bistro needs to know that individual people are strongly opposed.

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