City of Pittsburgh - File #: 2016-0370

• File #: 2016-0370
• Version: 3
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Passed Finally
• File created: 5/3/2016
• In control: Committee on Public Safety Services
• On agenda: 5/3/2016
• Enactment date: 12/19/2017
• Enactment #: 61
• Effective date: 12/28/2017
• Title: An Ordinance amending the Pittsburgh City Code at Title 6: Conduct, Article III: Dogs, Cats and Other Animals, by adding a New Chapter 637 - Infliction of Pain on Wild or Exotic Animals, making it unlawful to use devices or instruments to inflict pain for the purpose of training or controlling the behavior of any wild or exotic animal.
• Sponsors: Bruce A. Kraus
• Indexes: PGH. CODE ORDINANCES TITLE 06 - CONDUCT

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
12/28/2017	3	Mayor	Signed by the Mayor
12/19/2017	3	City Council	Passed Finally, As Amended	Pass
12/19/2017	2	City Council	AMENDED	Pass
12/13/2017	2	Standing Committee	Affirmatively Recommended	Pass
12/13/2017	2	Standing Committee	AMENDED BY SUBSTITUTE	Pass
5/24/2016	1	Committee on Hearings	Public Hearing Held
5/11/2016	1	Standing Committee	Held for Cablecast Public Hearing	Pass
5/3/2016	1	City Council	Read and referred

Title
An Ordinance amending the Pittsburgh City Code at Title 6: Conduct, Article III: Dogs, Cats and Other Animals, by adding a New Chapter 637 - Infliction of Pain on Wild or Exotic Animals, making it unlawful to use devices or instruments to inflict pain for the purpose of training or controlling the behavior of any wild or exotic animal.

Body
WHEREAS, a "bullhook," also known as an ankus, ankusha, elephant goad, elephant hook, or guide, resembles a fireplace poker, has a sharp steel hook and a spiked tip, it is used to prod, hook, strike, and hit elephants and other wild and exotic animals on their sensitive areas of skin in order to inflict pain during training, performing, and handling; and

WHEREAS, wild and exotic animals have been are often struck with bullhooks, electric prods, shocking devices, hacksaws, baseball bats, axe handles, pitchforks and other devices to induce substantial pain in order to coerce the animal to avoid the source of pain; and

WHEREAS, alternative methods by professionals for the handling of wild and exotic animals based on positive reinforcement training are available, effective, and widely used; and

WHEREAS, the states of California and Rhode Island, and the cities of Los Angeles, California; Oakland, California; Hallandale Beach, Florida; Pompano Beach, Florida; Richmond, Virginia; Margate, Florida; Miami Beach, Florida; and Fulton County, Georgia, Union City, Georgia; and Clatsop County, Oregon have prohibited the use of bullhooks within their jurisdictions; and

WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh currently prohibits various forms of cruelty to animals, including the use of painful techniques and devices on animals performing at rodeos within the City; and

WHEREAS, inflicting pain for the purpose of training and controlling wild and exotic animals poses an additional risk to public safety because such animals have wild instincts and needs and have demonstrated unpredictability; and

WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Pit...