Oakland, CA Bans Bullhooks, Follows Los Angeles’ Lead

Last week, Oakland, CA banned the use of bullhooks, prompting both Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus to cancel future events in the city. Following the lead of Los Angeles (the only other major city to make the device illegal), the legislation will take full effect starting late 2017. Bullhooks are torturous tools used to cause pain and intimidation to animals and are commonly used on circus elephants. According to David Perle, a spokesperson for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), “Thanks to the Oakland City Council, elephants in Oakland will be protected from … weapons that resemble a fireplace poker with a sharp hook on one end. PETA looks forward to seeing more cities across the country follow Oakland’s compassionate and progressive example.”