The battle is on to try and rid Denver of a decades-old tradition.

Officials from the National Humane Society met with local advocates Wednesday morning at the City and County building to kick off a campaign to drive support for a ballot initiative to ban all circuses which use exotic animals from pitching their tents in Denver.

A 15-year-old launched the ballot initiative. Heather Herman hopes voters will get behind her cause as much as fellow advocates. She believes these types of circuses abuse animals.

"It has been a great honor to be a part of these wonderful exciting steps that we have taken to expand our kindness as humans to help animals," said Herman. "It's not natural when you got elephants standing on each other and tigers jumping through fiery hoops."

Herman and other activists collected 10,000 signatures to get the issue on the ballot for the Aug. 10 primaries. The campaign officially began Wednesday, with supporters canvassing neighborhoods to inform people about the proposal, Initiative 100.

However, circuses that use wild or exotic animals have a number of supporters in Denver and major circuses like the Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus say they do not mistreat their animals.

"The reality is we have had circuses in this state for over 50 years, Ringling Bros. as well as the Shrine Circus, and there have never been a complaint or allegation or anything enforced," said Pancho Hays, who wants to keep the circus in Denver.

"Our animals receive the best treatment than any animal in the world. In fact, our animals are better taken care of than most people's pets," said John Kirkland with the Ringling Bros. Circus. He said circus animals live longer than those in the wild or in zoos.

Some city officials say this issue is about more than just the animals. The issue also affects hundreds of local jobs and may mean a loss of several million dollars. Ringling Bros. officials say over the past two years they have contributed more than $2.5 million toward Denver's economy.

If the issue is passed, only circuses that use exotic animals will be banned. Circuses that don't use wild animals, like Cirque du Soleil, will still be allowed to perform in the city.

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More About Initiative 100
Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey