West Hollywood is a bastion of liberal privilege, a place where fur retailing and most pet sales have been banned.

See also: West Hollywood Bans Most Retail Dog And Cat Sales.

The city is also skilled at banning stuff (like fur and pet sales) rarely seen within its boundaries. It's all about the headline. So here it is: The latest proposal before the West Hollywood City Council would ban circus animals from this lovely Westside town:

When's the last time you attended a circus in Weho (and we're not talking about the annual Halloween celebration on Santa Monica Boulevard)?

Thought so.

Google “West Hollywood circus” and you'll get results for Circus nightclub (which is actually in the city of L.A., in Hollywood). Now there's a place that needs a ban on wild bears.

We kid!

The proposal by council members Jeffrey Prang and John Duran would actually ban “the commercial display and performance of exotic animals.”

(Sounds like a circus animal ban to us).

The idea will be considered Monday. A draft ordinance lists animals that would be outlawed for such activity in fine WeHo:

1. Non-human primates and prosimians (chimpanzees, monkeys)

2. Felidae (except domesticated cats)

3. Canidae (except domesticated dogs)

4. Ursidae (bears)

5. Proboscidae (elephants)

6. Crocodilia (alligators, crocodiles)

7. Marsupialia (kangaroos, opossums)

8. Reptilia over 8 feet in length and snakes and reptiles of venomous variety.

9. Perissodactyla (rhinoceroses, tapirs, but not horses or donkeys or mules)

10. Artiodactyla ( hippopotamuses, giraffes, camels, but not cattle, swine,

sheep or goats)

11. Hyaenidae ( hyenas)

12. Mustelidae (skunks, weasels, otters, badgers)

13. Procynonidae (raccoons, coatis)

14. Edentata ( anteaters, sloths, armadillos)

15. Viverridae (mongooses, civets, and genets)

16. Struthioniformes (ostriches)

17. Casuariiformes (emus)

Damn, they did ban bears!

The group Animal Defenders International has encouraged the ban, saying in a letter to Prang that “these animals suffer deprived environments, unnatural conditions and violence.”

The proposal says the councilman want to …

… protect the public from the hazards and dangers that are inherent in the use of wild and exotic animals for entertainment and amusement purposes, and to also protect animals form cruel and inhumane treatment from errant trainers and caretakers. West Hollywood has a long tradition of enacting progressive policies that ensure the humane treatment of animals.

We predict it will pass with flying colors.

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