Last week, the Jordan World Circus performed at the Spanish Trail Arena in Moab. The circus has been protested for animal cruelty for years and was banned from using elephants in Salt Lake County in 2020. But last year, Utah passed an amendment that prohibits local governments from banning or restricting any enterprise that uses "working animals," including circuses. Last year, the state also changed its definition of animal cruelty. Circus animals are not protected in the criminal code.
- Show Notes -
• Utah’s amendments to animal enterprise laws
https://le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/sbillenr/SB0113.htm
• Utah’s animal cruelty criminal code
https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title76/Chapter9/76-9-S301.html
• A circus show in Utah won’t feature exotic animals for the first time
https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2020/01/28/circus-show-south-jordan/
