Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Who do you get to enforce animal law in North east PA (Allentown-Easton area?)

I emailed two humane officers and neither return the email. I can't find Animal Control.

What specifically is the problem? More details will help direct you to the right authorities...

It is PA Code that carnival midways can't give prizes or give the critter keeper as a prize and sell the iguana for $1.00.
A PA midway is doing this and will be in the area of Allentowm-Easton all summer and Fall.

For the few that don't see a problem with this, in my hometown one weekend of this exceeded the the ability of the pet stores and rescues to take the unwanted lizards. Almost all the winners are under 18.

I'd start with your local humane society, department of health and compain to the fairgrounds owner/manager pointing ou that it is illegal to give these animals away and the liability issue of a kid getting salmonella etc......., there is an article about this located at -

http://www.anapsid.org/carnivaligs.html

Ah, I never thought about the state health department! See if you can get a call or e-mail into thier director, like we did with the state vet at the ag. dept. in Maryland last year.

Also, see if you can find the actual code, and see if it's tied into a particular branch of the government or agency, as the prize regulation in MD is tied to the code belonging to the state ag. department, and the 4" reg in MD is tied into the the state health department, and so on. That would help determine who has final control over the regulation.

Katrina

The SPCA refuses to acknowledge my email. Rude. I was told to try the PA Fish and Boat Commission and the PA Dept of Agriculture.

Going to the sponsor is good, but it is after the fact in most cases. In this case, we know this idiot will be in the area all summer.

Cindy

cover reptiles in the Keystone, I would start there. If no success I have contacts at Game (they only do the furry things) who may be able to provide info if you have no success...
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Rhac 'n Roll Reptiles deadrats.net

when a similar situation occurred in my state, the state dept. of health stepped in and enforced the law. With all the attention that salmonella and other bacterial diseases transmitted by animals, has been getting in the news lately, and alerts by CDC to public health agencies, I would think your best bet would be to report it to your states public health dept.
Ed Stone, WI Herp. Society

boycott their table, pickett out in front of their table, get a megaphone and talk about what they are doing. The SPCA is a joke, they are the evil doers of our time, they confiscate animals illegally, sell them, keep the profits, and cause alot of grief for responsible animal keepers. The HS is just as bad, a store owner I know went out of town for a few days, his AC croaked and the resulting temps killed a snake in his shop (A horrible accident that could happen to ANY OF US), the result was the tenant upstairs called the HS, they raided the guys shop, destroyed the place, wrecked cages to open them (they were already unlocked, and they didnt want them being used again)took ALL of his animals to the shelter where, surprise, surprise, they didnt have the space to care for them properly (think rubbermaids with boas sitting in cold dark rooms with concrete floors) When the fellow returned to his destroyed shop the next day (they hadnt even locked the door back and he was vandalized hours after the HS left with the animals)he found complete chaos and destruction. When he contacted the HS they told him the animals had been confiscated due to abuse. Well the lawyers got involved, the animals mostly perished under the care of the HS (IDIOTS WHO DONT KNOW A THING)and he never saw any of them again. Luckily, he was a smart cookie, video surveillance showed the shop as it was on the day of the raid, you could see a VERY CLEAN AND ORGANIZED BUSINESS with HEALTHY ANIMALS, the raid looked more like an organized bunch of thieves wearing badges, poking at the snakes, ripping unlocked doors off the hinges and generally carrying on like looters. He sued the HS for an undisclosed amount and WON!!!!he then moved to a less invasive part of the country and reopened his shop. I love that story, when our bumbling government forces violate our rights and has its face rubbed in it I can only smile and think that there is a god!

Please remember that EACH HUMANE SOCIETY and SPCA ARE DIFFERENT!!! Not all have police powers, not all have facilities, and not all are AR (animal rights oriented vs. animal welfare oriented). They are also NOT CONNECTED with each other, for the most part. A county SPCA in Maryland is not connected to the ASPCA in New York City, for example. The Washington Humane Society in DC is actually pretty good at caring for reptiles short term, and will find experienced fosters if there is a long-term case. Some other Maryland humane societies and animals shelters aren't as good for reptiles, though.

Katrina

The regulation dealing with giving animals as prizes is administered and enforced by the PA. Dept. of Agriculture. There should be a regional office that you can contact. You can locate those offices on their web page.

Fred