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 |
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| BUNNIES GIVEN AS PRIZES. |
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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.
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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.
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