Utah: Accusations of animal cruelty for attraction at Salt Lake County Fair

UTAH -- A bear attraction at the Salt Lake County Fair is accused of cruelty to animals.

The Great Bear Show, as it's called by owner Bob Steele, features three bears; Barney, aged 2-1/2, Cindy aged 17 and Andy aged 25, which is quite old for a bear. Steele says Andy is on medication for arthritis. The show gives spectators a chance to see the animals up close and to watch them perform tricks.

"We go out a couple months a year, during prime fair season," says Steele, whose show is visiting Utah from Texas. "They're like my kids. Not pets, my kids."

The event has drawn criticism from the Utah Animal Rights Coalition, which has filed complaints, both federally and locally, claiming Bob's bears are being mistreated.

"Their living space should be measured in square acres or square miles, not square feet," says Jeremy Beckham, with UARC. "So this bear circus has had four separate violations, for violating the Animal Welfare Act, just in the last 18 months."

The USDA has issued Steele citations for violating the Animal Welfare Act on 

1. March 12, 2012 - click HERE to read the report
2. February 5, 2015 - click HERE to read the report
3. August 26, 2015 - click HERE to read the report
4. March 7, 2016 - click HERE to read the report

One of his repeat offenses is failure to provide adequate veterinary care, demonstrated by significant hair loss on Barney, a young black bear in his care. 

Hair loss around the neck indicates they have these
chains wrapped around their necks for long periods,
maybe even at all times.

Despite being cited just months ago, Steele continues to wrap an iron chain around Barney’s neck, where much of the patches of hair loss have been documented, and make him perform tricks in front of small crowds of fairgoers.

The Montana Standard also noted Barney’s hair loss at the Butte-Silver Bow County fair just two weeks ago.

Notes from USDA violation Steele received

Among Beckham's complaints are that the animals are allowed too close to the audience and the bears are held with iron chains around their necks during the show.

“Really it should be called the Sad Bear Show,” Beckham said. “These bears have these heavy chains tied around their necks, they're being dragged out of their depressing cage, being forced to perform confusing and unnatural tricks like sitting in chairs, standing on barrels.”

"The chain has to be around their necks, it's called a leash and it is required by both state and federal authorities," said Steele.

Beckham also takes issue with the booth where people can take a photo with a bear.

“This flimsy, two-foot piece of plexiglass is not a meaningful protection against a 600-pound animal like a bear," he said. "It's an accident waiting to happen.”

He also worries about the bears missing patches of hair. He believes it's caused by an underlying medical condition compounded by heavy iron chains placed around the bear's necks, but Steele says there’s no mistreatment.

Beckham is calling for the animals to be released to a bear rehabilitation center.

"I think that this is an inhumane activity inherently," he says. There's not a humane way to do this. Even if (Steele) has the best of intentions in his heart."

On Thursday, investigators with Salt Lake County Animal Control questioned Steele and observed the bears, finding no obvious signs of abuse or neglect.

"I see nothing out of the ordinary," said Lt. Chris Klekas, with Salt Lake County. "I see no signs of animal cruelty."

Sorry but an Animal Control officer is NOT a USDA inspector. He deals with cats and dogs and doesn't know what to look for in state requirements for captive wildlife. Did he physically check the hair loss on the bear. Did he pull the fur at his neck apart to look for injuries caused by a chain wrapped around his neck? Also, he should know better than to give a statement to the media. He should have kept his mouth shut and referred the reporter to his agency's public information officer. 

(KUTV 2News - ‎Aug 18, 2016)

From the Utah Animal Rights Coalition's article titled "THE SHAMEFUL BEAR CIRCUS AT THE SALT LAKE COUNTY FAIR"

Aren't we past forcing animals to perform tricks? Even
Barnum and Bailey circus is retiring their performing
elephants and pressure is on Sea World to stop
making their killer whales do tricks for shows.

Animal abuse is inconsistent with the values of Salt Lake County.

Take action:

1. Call the Salt Lake County Fair at (385) 468-3247 and politely ask that they cancel all the currently scheduled appearances of “The Great Bear Show.”
2. Sign UARC’s change.org petition asking that the County prohibit the use of all exotic animal circuses and performing animal acts at county-owned facilities. 
3. Share on social media and encourage friends to sign.
4. If you are a resident of Salt Lake County, contact your County Councilmember directly to tell them you support UARC’s efforts to prohibit exotic animal circuses at the equestrian park.