NY Putnam legislators considering bull-riding ban

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It's progress! I hope SHARK gets involved. Putnam legislators considering bull-riding banJune 1, 2008Michael RisinitThe Journal News PATTERSON - A measure prohibiting bull riding in Putnam County may soon be considered by county lawmakers, some of whom are on the fence about the matter. Their look at the issue comes after a Patterson landowner proposed holding bull-riding shows on his property. But, like the matter in front of the Patterson Planning Board, the county Legislature's effort is still in the early stages. "We're contemplating banning specifically bull riding," saidLegislator Dan Birmingham, R-Brewster, who chairs the Legislature's Rules Committee. "It's a public health and safety issue, not only for the humans (riding the bulls) but the bulls as well." In April, the Planning Board began considering a

plan by Robert Pfister to bring a bull-riding show to town. His family owns the land where the Westview Golf Driving Range and Abruzzi Trattori sit on Route 22. A preliminary sketch showed the event taking place on 35 acres behind the businesses. Promoters would provide, set up and dismantle the equipment. Planning Board members walked the site in April to gauge the proposal's potential impact. They briefly discussed the matter at their meeting on Thursday, Town Planner Rich Williams said, and are contemplating referring it to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Another site visit is also expected. Pfister has said the popularity of a similar event at the annual Dutchess County Fair and an inquiry by a promoter prompted him to propose the idea. He didn't return recent telephone messages about the matter and the promoter, Sergio Ramirez of Wingdale, couldn't be reached for comment. Birmingham and some

other legislators last month began discussing bull riding, its potential for animal abuse and whether to craft legislation outlawing it. The Rules Committee heard from Neil Platt of Southeast, who said he's part of a grass-roots effort aimed at stopping rodeos and bull riding. "The driving force here was the fact that rodeo animals are treated cruelly and brutally, and a lot of the population is not aware of that," he said last week. The committee will further discuss bull riding at its June 19 meeting and may submit a proposed law to the full Legislature for its July meeting, Birmingham said. He said he hoped to have a bull-riding advocate speak at the June meeting. Legislator Anthony Fusco, R-Mahopac, who attended the Rules Committee meeting, said he wanted more information before deciding on any legislation. "We certainly watched some appalling videos, and I was absolutely dismayed by the

treatment of the animals in those videos," Fusco said. "It's not to say every one acts the same way." The Planning Board's file on the proposal contains about a dozen letters from organizations and individuals protesting the idea, including the Humane Society of the United States. "Bull-riding shows are cruel spectacles where contestants vie to see who can have the longest, most dramatic ride on frightened and distressed animals," Patrick Kwan, New York State director for HSUS, wrote to the board. On Friday, Kwan said he hoped to have local members speak at the Legislature's next meeting. Legislator Robert McGuigan, R-Mahopac, said he was "sure incidents (of abuse) occur." But, he added, he didn't think such incidentshappen regularly, given society's focus on animal abuse. He said he would "have to be convinced the animals" are always in danger before he voted to ban the practice.

"We're talking about a quote, unquote American pastimetradition," said McGuigan, a Rules Committee member. "I want to be very careful not to jump to conclusions." http://pets.Fortheanimals7/join http://www.myspace.com/fortheanimals7