The Anne Arundel County Council is scheduled to vote on a bill next month that is intended to prevent cruelty against elephants. As reported in The Capital Gazette:

Two events would be impacted by the bill — the Cole Bros. Circus in the spring and the Maryland Renaissance Festival in late summer and fall. The bill would ban the use of a bullhook, which is used to control the animals around people. A public hearing will be held on the bill at the council’s Sept. 8 meeting.

If passed, circus organizers said they may pass on stopping in Anne Arundel County.

Bill sponsors Chris Trumbauer, D-Annapolis, and John Grasso, R-Glen Burnie, said the measure was a way to ensure wild animals kept captive are treated properly.

During a work session earlier this month, Trumbauer suggested expanding the effort to include other animals.

“If you have a bear or tiger amendment, I would be open to considering it,” he said.

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County Executive Steve Schuh’s administration has called the effort unnecessary because there are enough laws to ensure the animals are not mistreated.

For more information read the full article in The Capital Gazette.