|
IT'S CARNIVAL & FAIR TIME---not so good
a time for the rabbits and other animals given away as prizes. Carnivals and fairs around the nation have been giving
away baby bunnies, baby iguanas, goldfish, turtles, and hermit crabs as prizes for winning at carnival and mid-way games.
The babies are often prematurely weaned, sick, and/or given improper care. They are several known cases where the babies died
shortly after being "won." RabbitWise and others are trying to ban this practice. Please help us build a case and rescue
the "fair hares" and other critters. Wherever you are if you see sick, neglected, and/or abused animals being given
away as prizes, or violations of your state and local laws, REPORT IT! Here's how you can help:
| ACTUAL PHOTO OF BABY |
|
|
| BUNNIES GIVEN AS PRIZES. |
|
 |
|
If
you live in the metro DC area, visit some of these fairs and check them out. For location, dates, and
other details visit this link to the guide to the Metropolitan Washington, DC Area Fairs: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/03/AR2006080300432.html
MARYLAND STATE LAW
(RabbitWise's Home State)
"Live Animals as Prizes Section: 15.01.03
of COMAR states that approval must be received from the Secretary of Agriculture for the giving away of a
live animal (vertebrate) as a prize in a contest, game, drawing, sweepstakes or other promotion. Requests for approval to
give an animal away shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary and shall provide details that clearly describe the animal's
environment, food, health maintenance, and instructions for care. For more details contact the State Veterinarian's office
at 410-841-5810."
Please
remember that anyone with a permit to give an animal away as a prize must display the permit and have each species of animal
listed on the permit. Someone with a permit for goldfish alone cannot give out rabbits as well.
If
you don't see the permit posted at the game, or you see rabbits, iguanas
or turtles being given as prizes,
please contact the Maryland state vet immediately to report the vendor.
MARYLAND STATE VETERINARIAN
Dr. Phyllis
Cassano, DVM, State Veterinarian and Chief
Division
of Animal Industries
Maryland
Department of Agriculture
50 Harry
S. Truman Parkway
Annapolis,
MD 21401
Tele:
410-841-5810
FAX:
410-841-5999
E-mail:
cassanpa@mda.state.md.us
Web Site: www.mda.state.md.us
Look up your local Animal Control's
contact information.
Keep a copy of your Animal Control's telephone
number and e-mail address so that you can quickly report violations of your state and municipal codes and/or cases of
animal abuse/neglect/mistreatment to him/her.
ANIMAL CONTROL CONTACT INFO FOR THE METRO WASHINGTON,
DC AREA
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: (202)
234-8626, option 1
MARYLAND:
Montgomery
County: (240) 773-5900
Prince Georges County: (301) 499-8300, option 1
NORTHERN VIRGINIA:
Alexandria: (703) 838-4774
Arlington County: (703) 931-9241, option 1
Fairfax County: (703) 830--3310
Loudoun County: (703) 777-0406
Keep RabbitWise's contact info
readily available. E-mail rabbitwise@verizon.net and call (301) 530-1252, (703) 430-3453, and/or (703) 421-2258.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4. IF YOU DO SPOT A CARNIVAL OR OTHER VENUE THAT'S GIVING AWAY LIVE ANIMAL PRIZES HERE'S WHAT TO DO:
-IMMEDIATELY REPORT SICK, INJURED,
ORPHANED, MISTREATED, NEGLECTED OR ABUSED ANIMALS to your local Animal Control authority.
Wait
around until they show up if they can come immediately. While you are waiting, collect the information you'll
need to make the case (see below).
-IF RABBITS ARE INVOLVED: E-mail RabbitWise at rabbitwise@verizon.net and call 301-530-1252,
703-430-3453, and/or 703-421-2258 ASAP.
-IF IGUANAS ARE INVOLVED: e-mail vbiguana@yahoo.com ASAP.
-RECORD:
The type
of animal(s), conditions that they are in (absence food, water, protection from weather, or anything that doesn't meet your
state law's requirements), the date, the time, and the location.
TAKE PHOTOS
IF YOU CAN. Try to include identifying information in the photo.
-GET IDENTIFYING INFORMATION ABOUT
THE VENUE OPERATOR:
Look around for the name of the carnival providing the rides. This will be seen
on the banners or trucks and possibly the jackets of employees.
Find out who is sponsoring the carnival or fair, i.e.
city, church, firehouse, etc.
GET PHOTOS if you can. -REPORT ANY VIOLATIONS TO YOUR STATE'S VETERINARIAN.
5.
FOLLOW-UP / CASE BUILDING / PREVENTION
-E-mail vbiguana@yahoo.com so that it may be added to the webpage information tracking this problem.
-Write to the sponsors of the carnival and ask that
a no live prize policy be put in place for next year. Get others to write. Remember we are asking for a favor, so be polite. Sample
letters are available at Carnival Rabbits. To join, see above on this page.
-Write to city or
county representatives and ask for a local ban, citing the offense in their legislative district. Check out the link
above on this page about how to get an ordinance if your locale does not have one.
SAY NO TO IRRESPONSIBLE TREATMENT OF LIVING BEINGS!
E-mail us at rabbitwise@verizon.net if you are interested in joining a group working
on combating rabbits being used as live animal prizes.
HELP US HELP THE RABBITS. Click on the Pay Pal button to make a donation. YOUR DONATION IS TAX DEDCTIBLE!
RESPONSIBLE CARE IS THE RIGHT OF ALL RABBITS
Copyright(C) 2008 RabbitWise(R). All content of this website, including written text,
design, and creative concepts are protected by copyright. No parts of this website may be reproduced by any means without
the expressed written permission by an authorized representative of RabbitWise.
Thank you for being respectful of
the law.
<!-- Start of StatCounter Code -->
<script type="text/javascript" language="javascript">
var
sc_project=432256;
var sc_partition=2;
var sc_security="";
var sc_invisible=1;
</script>
|
