TO: ALL STATE LEGISLATORS
FROM: ERIC MILLS, COORDINATOR, ACTION FOR ANIMALS
RE: SIGNATURE REQUEST
See below. I hope you'll be willing to sign this petition (to be delivered to the State Fair Board). Please sign and return to me at your earliest convenience (ACTION FOR ANIMALS, P.O. Box 20184, Oakland, CA 94620). Thank you for your consideration.
ANIMAL WELFARE AT THE STATE FAIR
IN THE INTERESTS OF ANIMAL WELFARE, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION, WE, THE UNDERSIGNED MEMBERS OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATURE, DO HEREBY IMPLORE CAL EXPO AND THE CALIFORNIA STATE FAIR TO CEASE IMMEDIATELY THE FOLLOWING INHUMANE PRACTICES:
1. BAN FARROWING CRATES - Currently, pregnant sows are routinely kept on display in the Fair's animal nursery for three straight weeks, unable to turn around, barely able to move at all, and forced to give birth on a barren plastic grid. Normally, a parturient sow would seek out a quiet, secluded place to build a nest for herself and her piglets. All these natural behaviors are impossible at the State Fair. Reportedly, none of California's many county fairs feature these inhumane displays. Our State Fair should follow suit, and display the sows and their piglets (born off-site) in open pens, in deep wood chips. THAT's what the public wants to see.
2. BAN THE GIVING AWAY OF GOLDFISH AS PRIZES - Fair vendors annually give away as many as fifteen thousand goldfish on the midway. Most will die an early death, be dumped in local waters (where they cause problems for our native wildlife), or simply be flushed down the toilet, treated as mere "expendables," of little or no value.
3. BAN THE SALE OF HERMIT CRABS AS PETS - The crabs are all taken from the wild, depleting local populations. Like the goldfish above, most will meet an early demise. They do not make good pets. At last year's Fair, the crabs' shells were all hand-painted in various motifs. What a terrible message to send to children about the proper regard for wildlife!
By adopting these simple changes, our State Fair could become one of the most humane in the nation. Better for the animals and public alike, and likely increase Fair attendance. (This year's Fair runs July 11-27.)
SIGNATURE____________________________________
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Please contact your own senator and assembly member (find your California Representative) and urge them to sign the petition -- good for the animals, good for business.
All legislators may be written c/o The State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814. The Fair Board may be emailed at calexpoboard@calexpo.com.
All legislators may be written c/o The State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814. The Fair Board may be emailed at calexpoboard@calexpo.com.
Thanks for caring.
