Search The Site


Follow Us!

 OUR MAILING LIST

Support Through Advocacy

ANIMALS ARE DYING AT SANTEE ALLEY! Please Send Councilwoman Jan Perry a letter urging her to help combat animal cruelty at Los Angeles Fashion District.
Thursday
17Dec2009

Animals Are Dying at Santee Alley

DateThursday, December 17, 2009

by Voices for The Animals Foundation

Along with other illegal sales that go on there, Santee Alley is the city's number one haven for illegal animal sales. Baby bunnies, turtles, birds, puppies and kittens are sold illegally on a daily basis. Animals are kept in filthy conditions, in the glaring sun with no food or water. Many of these animals are sick or dying when they are sold. These activities clearly violate several City codes and often other statutes as well.

The Department of Animal Services, the LAPD and the City Attorney have periodically tried to bust violators at Santee, but without a concerted commitment from City Hall and the County court system to provide the necessary support and resources, these crack-downs uickly deteriorate into a repetitive game of hide-and-seek. The perpetrators disappear for a few days and then come back like nothing is amiss.

The sale of small turtles, under 4 inches, has been banned in the United States since 1975, but this has not stopped people from selling these turtles at Santee Alley. Not only is this an issue of animal cruelty, but also a public safety. Did you know that Salmonella can be contracted by humans from turtles? Salmonella occurs naturally in turtles and does not make them sick. There are many other diseases that can be contrated by humans who touch these animals. Among them are chlamydiosis, TB, arizonosis, and colibacillosis.

PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH! PLEASE HELP PUT A STOP TO THE CRUEL AND ILLEGAL SALES OF ANIMALS AT SANTEE ALLEY! Please take just a few moments to personalize and send an e-mail to Councilwoman Jan Perry, asking her to stop the cruel, illegal sales of animals at Santee Alley. Also, please send a personalized email to Councilmen Greig Smith and Jack Weiss.

LA City Councilmember Jan Perry
200 N Spring St # 420
Los Angeles, CA 90012

LA City Councilmember Grieg Smith
200 N Spring St # 405
Los Angeles, CA 90012

LA City Councilmember Jack Weiss
200 N Spring St # 440
Los Angeles, CA 90012

 

Dear Councilwoman Perry:
   
As a concerned citizen and animal lover, I am shocked to discover that there are illegal animal sales going on in Santee Alley. These animals are in filthy conditions; they have no shade to protect them from the sun, no food or water. Many of them are sick or dying and are still being sold as pets for children.

Not only is this an issue of animal cruelty, it is a public safety issue as well. Today we are seeing a huge recall of tomatoes due to Salmonella outbreaks. The CDC also warns against catching Salmonella from turtles as well, which carry Salmonella naturally. Turtles can also spread other diseases, such as TB, chlamydiosis, arizonosis, and colibacillosis. The sale of turtles smaller than 4 inches has been banned since 1975; but this doesn't stop these people from selling them.

We know you are very concerned about sales of pirated goods in Los Angeles, and animals should be treated just as seriously as bogus DVDs, fake designer shoes and other goods. Please stop the illegal sale of all animals in Santee Alley. Please show the community that you do not condone cruelty to animals and that you are very concerned with public safety. We are asking you to start by posting signs, in English and Spanish, informing the public that animal sales are illegal.

Sincerely,

   

AuthorLejla | Comment2 Comments |
Tuesday
20Jan2009

Support AB1122 Bill / End Roadside Sales of Animals

DateTuesday, January 20, 2009

BWF is seeking help to generate support for AB1122 the bill that will ban the sale of animals on roadsides, parking lots, and carnivals. Here is a link to the language of the bill.

Below is a list of people that letters of support should be sent to and a sample letter. Activists should feel free to add in their own comments and personal experiences, but its perfectly o.k. just to copy and send the sample letter. We have included a sample letter that focuses on rabbits as well as sample letter that focuses on birds. Again activists are welcome to combine facts from both letters.

Senator Mark Leno (Chair)
Phone: (916) 651-4118
Fax: (916) 445-4688
click here to email

Senator John J. Benoit (Vice-Chair)
Phone: (916) 651-4037
Fax: (916) 327-2187
click here to email

Senator Gilbert Cedillo
Phone: (916) 651-4022
Fax: (916) 327-8817
click here to email

Senator Loni Hancock
Phone: (916) 651-4009
Fax: (916) 327-1997
click here to email

Senator Robert Huff
Phone: (916) 651-4029
Fax: (916) 324-0922
click here to email

Senator Darrell Steinberg
Phone: (916) 651-4006
Fax: (916) 323-2263
click here to email

Senator Roderick Wright
Phone: (916) 651-4025
Fax: (916) 445-3712
click here to email

Sample letter (with rabbit focus)

The Honorable [Senators Name]
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Senator [senator's last name]

I am writing in support of AB 1122, a bill that will address the sale of live animals on roadsides, street corners and in parking lots.

This problem is especially rampant in the Los Angeles fashion district where animals are sold on street corners in appalling conditions.

Rabbits are one of the most commonly sold animals. In addition to very significant animal welfare concerns associated with these unregulated and inherently stressful sale situations, these sales place a huge burden on shelters and rescues. Rabbits are the third most-frequently relinquished species at shelters across the country.

The rabbits sold at these venues are virtually always unspayed/unneutered, which means that not only will these animals contribute to an already disastrous overpopulation problem in California, but without surgical alteration, the rabbits will most likely have behavioral problems which the uninformed buyer will not know how to handle.

AB1122 will reduce the suffering of rabbits as well as puppies, birds and other animals sold on roadsides and in parking lots. It will also ease the burden on rescues and shelters that frequently incur the burden of caring for sick, injured, and unwanted animals sold at these venues.

Best regards,


Sample letter (bird focus)
The Honorable [Senators Name]
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Senator [\ last name]

I am writing in support of AB 1122, a bill that will address the sale of live animals on roadsides, street corners and in parking lots.

In addition to the very significant animal welfare concerns associated with these unregulated and inherently stressful sale situations, such venues also provide the perfect opportunity for the sale of illegally smuggled parrots, which is of great concern.

According to a 2008 report produced by the Congressional Research Service, “the illegal wildlife trade is among the most lucrative illicit economies in the world behind illegal drugs and possibly human trafficking and arms trafficking.”

Exotic birds are among the most lucrative animals in this trade. With almost a third of the world’s 330 parrot species threatened with extinction due to the combined pressures of habitat loss and collecting for the pet trade, the trade in wild birds remains a critical conservation issue. Recent estimates suggest that a range of 3,133 to 9,400 parrots are smuggled annually into the United States and the smuggling of some species appears to be on the rise.

It is believed that many smuggled parrots are sold on roadsides, parking lots and other temporary venues which provide a situation where the seller has no legal oversight and no consumer accountability for the sale of diseased, sick or injured animals.

AB1122 will reduce the suffering of birds as well as puppies, rabbits and other animals sold on roadsides and in parking lots. It also will aid in addressing the conservation issues associated with the illegal trade in wild parrots.

Best regards,
AuthorBunny World | Comments Off |