Wilmington Town Meeting: Article 65 Would Ban Circus Animals

WILMINGTON, MA — Wilmington town meeting voters will decide Saturday whether to ban "travelling animal acts" — like the Shriners Circus — from town.

Article 65 of the Town Meeting warrant would prohibit the participation of certain animals in traveling animal acts for public entertainment or amusement, including elephants, camels and non-human primates.

The article was disapproved by the Finance Committee, "as it specifically targets a non-profit here in Town," according to the Committee's recommendations.

"The Finance Committee does recognize that animals should be treated humanely," they continued.

The Wilmington Apple reported that at a recent Finance Committee meeting, the article's lead petitioner, Jenne Sindoni, told the Committee that the article is important because of the Aleppo Shriners Circus.

The one Committee member who voted to recommend the article, Hirak Shah, wrote a letter to the Apple arguing in its favor.

"I hope the kind people of Wilmington will attend the town meeting on June 27 and vote to enact the proposed ordinance to do away with these inhumane and unsafe shows," he wrote.

The full warrant is available here.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.