BY LINDA SMITH HANCHARICK
WEST MILFORD — The West Milford Animal Shelter Society (WMASS) has declined the $1,000 donation from the Highlands Economic Development and Tourism Corporation (HEAT), money that was raised as a result of the group bringing the circus to town.
Jean Bremy, longtime president of the WMASS, said that as an organization protecting the welfare of animals, they simply couldn’t accept the donation since the source was a circus that uses wild animals.
“As a non-profit humane organization, our mission includes promoting and encouraging, through direct action and education, the welfare of all animals,” said Bremy in a letter on behalf of the organization, which appears on page 12. “Our organization does not promote extreme views, but we do believe that all animals are entitled to humane treatment.
“As a result, the WMASS Board unanimously voted to respectfully return an unexpected donation publicly presented to us by HEAT at the June 21 council meeting after their vice-chairman promoted the circus.”
‘I’m disappointed’HEAT Vice Chairman Paul Zarrillo, who presented the donation last Wednesday to Mayor Bettina Bieri at the township council meeting prior to the circus performance on Sunday, said he was disappointed and surprised the non-profit group would turn down $1,000.
“I’m disappointed,” said Zarrillo, a self-described animal lover who brings his dog to work with him every day. “I can’t believe they would do that. I would think a thousand dollars is a pretty good donation for them.”
And it is, there is no doubt about that.
Bieri is a long-time volunteer and officer with the shelter. Later in that same meeting, she asked the council to consider a local law that would prohibit any acts that include wild animals from the township. Passaic and Bergen counties have done it relating to their own property, as have many municipalities. She requested this because of calls and emails from constituents who were opposed to this type of entertainment, she said. There was no support for it on the council, although Councilman Mike Hensley said he would consider looking into it.
Bremy said she will personally work to change the council’s mind on the issue.
HEAT is a private organization that used private property for the circus.
Hope they reconsiderHEAT Chairman Tim Wagner is also a township councilman. He said the Kelly Miller Circus should be judged on its own merits and people should not be misled by protestors.
“This circus treats it animals very well,” said Wagner. “They even invited protestors to come in and talk with the handlers but they declined. It’s amazing how protestors spread misleading propaganda. They were carrying signs about tigers. There are no tigers in this circus.”
“I hope they reconsider,” he added, about the shelter, noting HEAT has donated about $1,500 in total to the shelter in the past. “This (the circus) is an American tradition.”
Bremy acknowledged the group’s past donations and said she is grateful for them. HEAT has joined with Jon Sherwood, who organized a hike in memory of his beloved dog, Gromit. All money raised from that annual hike has been donated to the shelter. But taking money that was the result of the circus, something Bremy said “contradicts our very essence of promoting humane treatment,” they just couldn’t do.
The seven-member board of the animal shelter met and voted unanimously to turn down the donation.
“The vote was fast and unanimous,” said Bremy.
The board also sent out a letter to its general volunteers. She said the feedback she’s gotten was all supportive. “Everyone had the same feeling.”
The shelter is an all-volunteer group that gets some money from the township but depends heavily on donations and fundraisers.
HEAT’s philanthropyZarrillo said the circus is the group’s largest fundraiser, This was the second year they had the Kelly Miller Circus, which has been in existence since 1938. About 1,700 people came to the two shows performed last Sunday, an increase over last year’s attendance, according to Zarrillo. HEAT gets a cut of the ticket sales but makes most of its money with sponsorships. The group then donates to various local groups. HEAT has made donations from its various events and fundraisers to the Bubbling Springs Day Camp Scholarship Fund, Project Graduation, the annual Christmas Decoration contest it sponsors and, of course, the animal shelter. They also comp many tickets to the circus to groups, like the Association for Special Children and Families.
Zarrillo and Wagner said they veted this circus and others before deciding to hire them.
“Some circuses we wouldn’t have,” said Wagner. “This circus has shown us they do good. It was in Greenwood Lake. They told us it was a great circus and we did our due diligence.”
No animalsTo the shelter board, though, they simply can’t support any circus with wild animal acts. Bieri noted in a letter last week that fewer circuses include animal acts because people prefer shows that only use human performers.
“These wild animals, which are large and naturally active, are denied everything natural to them, are forced to perform unnatural acts, and inhumanely spend the vast majority of their lives in long-term caged confinement,” Bieri wrote.
“It’s really disappointing. I thought we were doing a wonderful thing,” said Zarrillo. “I think the mayor and this group made a mistake on this. I would bet 98 percent of the town supports the circus.”
But, Zarrillo did give the shelter its due.
“I guess I have to give them credit if their beliefs are that strong that they would turn down $1,000,” said Zarrillo. “I do give them credit for that.”
What are your thoughts about the circus and the animal shelter returning the donation? Go to westmilfordmessenger.com and tell us.