#supportTEAPSPA: The Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act

The Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act (TEAPSPA), or HR 2863, introduced last month in Congress, would amend the Animal Welfare Act to prohibit the use of exotic and wild animals in traveling performances. If possible, follow up your letter with a call. This bill has strong opposition and has failed before.

Animal Defenders International offers more information on its website, including a quick online way to ask your local rep to support this bill — and this list of reasons to support TEAPSPA:

Insufficient Space

Animals are housed and transported in very small cages.

Extended Periods Spent in Transport Vehicles

Even for short journeys, animals are often loaded long before, and unloaded long after.

Lack of Exercise / Restriction of Natural Behaviors

Circuses lack the resources to allow animals to exercise normally or act naturally.

Stress From Abnormal Conditions

Solitary animals get crowded together, predators and prey are housed in close proximity, and family members are separated.

Physical Abuse

Most “tricks” are coerced through the use of bull hooks, electric prods, whips, metal bars, and methods most would view as torturous.

Resulting Problems

Animals kept in circus conditions are prone to severe health, behavioral, and psychological problems.

Regulation Difficulties

Studies show that the transient nature of traveling circuses present significant challenges to, and increase the costs of, regulation and enforcement.

Safety Concerns

The extreme stress caused by the circus environment often makes wild animals highly dangerous, especially with the public. Deaths and injuries are becoming increasingly common.

Sample letters to Congress

Rep. Pramila Jayapal is a co-sponsor. Here’s a quick online way to thank her for being awesome.

The bill was introduced last month in the House Agriculture Committee, which has one WA member: Kim Schrier, D-Wenatchee (freshman Dem who helped flip the House from Republicans)

Online: https://schrier.house.gov/contact.
Snail mail: 1123 Longworth HOB, Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-7761

Here’s a sample letter for Rep. Schrier:

Dear Rep. Schrier,
Please support the Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act (TEAPSPA), which would prohibit the use of exotic and wild animals in traveling performances. This is a simple way to stop suffering and protect the public and would be a great way to build your record as a compassionate and forward-thinking Democrat in the House.

45 countries have banned such performances, the National Aquarium is releasing its dolphins to a sanctuary, SeaWorld has stopped captive breeding of orcas, Ringling Bros is out of business, Floridians voted overwhelmingly last year to stop greyhound racing.

This is a bill in keeping with the times. Business interests should not prevail in this case.

With thanks from your fellow Washingtonian,
Your name

Look up your House rep using your address and ask them to support TEAPSPA:  https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative