After Long Island Orchestrating for Nature worked with West Deptford resident Joan Conn to help her convince the West Deptford Lions to deny Cole Bros. Circus after years of using them as their annual fundraiser, LION President John Di Leonardo used his role as Senior Campaigner for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to parlay her victory into a statement from Lions Clubs International reaffirming its stance against the use of animals for entertainment to its 46,000-plus clubs and more than 1.4 million members.
This statement–included in a monthly newsletter serving clubs around the globe–declared, “[W]e … recognize that all life, including the animal kingdom with whom we share our planet, is precious” and urged clubs to “refrain from fundraising activities that exploit or cause harm to animals.”
LCI first discouraged its clubs from hosting animal circuses 16 years ago, citing concerns regarding both animal welfare and public safety.
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