Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HfA) Executive Director Dan Watson appeared before Huntsville councillors during the May General Committee meeting to request an exemption from the Town’s Exotic Pet By-law for an upcoming theatrical performance featuring dogs.
Watson explained that HfA has booked the family-friendly production Dogs Do Magic for July 4 at the Algonquin Theatre. The show combines theatrical magic with highly trained dogs showcasing their intelligence, agility, and speed.
“We were informed by the Town’s Bylaw Enforcement Department that it would be classified as a circus, and therefore we needed to come before council to request an exemption,” Watson told councillors.
While acknowledging the bylaw requirements, Watson said he would not consider the production a traditional circus.
“It’s not Barnum and Bailey with tigers and lions,” he said. “They’re dogs showing off their amazing intelligence, their amazing agility, their amazing speed, and it’s combined with magic.”
Watson explained the production features approximately 15 to 20 dogs alongside eight performers, noting that all of the dogs are personally owned, trained, and cared for by the performers themselves.
The production has already appeared in several municipal theatres and is also scheduled to perform at the Gravenhurst Opera House.
“This hasn’t been something they’ve come across in the past, and there’s never been any issues around the show,” Watson said. “It’s a family-friendly show, so I’m hoping you’ll grant the exemption so we can bring the show here and people can enjoy it.”
Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock said the municipality originally adopted the Exotic Pet By-law largely due to concerns about traditional circuses.
“Sorry that your show got captured,” Alcock said. “But we have to make sure your dogs are happy dogs.”
She added that she was considering attending the performance herself.
Watson reassured council that the dogs are not owned by a production company. “They’re all with the performers,” he said.
Deputy Mayor Dan Armour and Councillor Scott Morrison both voiced support for the show and expressed confidence in how the animals are cared for.
Councillor Cory Clarke drew laughter from the room with his comments during the discussion.“A lot of what goes on in this room feels like a circus at times, and there’s no exemption required here,” he said. “So I don’t have any problem with an exemption for your show.”
Council unanimously approved the exemption request, allowing Dogs Do Magic to proceed at the Algonquin Theatre.
The show takes place at the Algonquin Theatre on Saturday, July 4, 2026, from 2 to 4 p.m. You can buy tickets HERE.
Don’t miss out on Doppler!
Sign up here to receive our email digest with links to our most recent stories.
Local news in your inbox so you don’t miss anything!
Click here to support local news
Great article! We need to support our local theatre and good to know our town council is so approachable. Thanks
Sounds like the bylaw did exactly what it was supposed to do: flag a situation for review. Council looked at the facts, recognized the difference between exotic-animal circuses and a dog theatre show, and approved the exemption. Common sense prevailed.
Does this town have a law pertaining to absolutely everything someone could possibly try to do?