Help Stop Elephant Rides - Please Attend San Diego Fair Board Meeting

Attend Meeting to End Elephant Rides At San Diego County Fair
Carpool to the fair - indicate if you need a ride or if you have room in your car, indicate how many

Attend Meeting to End Elephant Rides At San Diego County Fair

Elephant rides are inhumane for elephants and unsafe for the public, yet the San Diego County Fair continues to offer this cruel “attraction.” Please join us at the San Diego County Fair Board meeting on Tuesday, March 12 and urge the Board to revisit this serious issue. Please help and put an end to elephant rides at the Fair.

What: San Diego County Fair Board Meeting
When: Tuesday, March 12 at 1:30 p.m. (please come early to sign up for public comment)
Where: Board Room at the San Diego County Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar, CA 92014 (Enter through main gate on Jimmy Durante Blvd. and ask to be directed to the Board Room.) FREE PARKING!

Please consider speaking during public comment. Your prepared statement should be approximately 2 minutes and emphasize the importance of public safety, as this is the issue of greatest concern to the Fair Board. Ask the Fair Board members to add this item to their meeting agenda for a vote.

Even if you dread speaking, please consider reading a brief statement similar to the following:

My name is ____________. As a fair patron, it concerns me that "free contact" is still allowed between humans and elephants. Elephants have the ability to transmit TB to human beings and if startled, could rampage injuring people on their back and on the ground. Please vote to ban the elephant rides to keep the San Diego Fair safe.

Animal advocates have repeatedly asked the San Diego County Fair Board to discontinue elephant rides. At a meeting in November 2011, the Fair Board voted to put off its decision until 2014, despite shocking video evidence showing the Fair’s elephant ride provider, Have Trunk Will Travel, striking elephants will bullhooks and using an electric shock device during training.

Since that meeting, however, new developments have occurred, including the Orange County and Los Angeles Fairs putting an end to elephant rides. This leaves the San Diego County Fair as the only major fair in Southern California that continues to offer rides. Have Trunk Will Travel was also cited by the USDA for a safe handling violation when an elephant not being used for rides was left unsecured and often not supervised, creating a serious risk for the public.

With your help we can put an end to elephant rides at the San Diego County Fair!

For more information, please contact Alison Stanley at 562-810-5807 or Alison@LOHV.org