To: Eastpointe City Council and Ihrie O'Brien law firm SCS, MI
Petting zoos; animal neglect, transmission of zoonotic diseases to humans
Stop animal neglect and protect the public in banning all traveling animal acts.
Why is this important?
On August 2, 2018, the temperature was in the high 80's with high humidity and the petting zoo at the (Eastpointe, MI) Kennedy Park event violated MPC 750.50 a.k.a., the Anti Cruelty Statute.
The event went from 5-10 pm with approximately 20 animals.
A gray Lion's head rabbit was confined to a cage with NO shade, a 2 ounce container for water (only after I chewed out the owners), and food NOT suitable for a rabbit.
The owner claimed the rabbit had water earlier and the kids are responsible for feeding the rabbit.
The statute mandates adequate water, food, sanitary conditions and protection/shelter from the elements. In this case, the sun.
The rabbit was forced to sit in the sun for 3 hours with no shade, a blanket was not provided until I chewed out the owner for not providing shade/shelter from the sun.
As of today, October 15th, the city attorney has still NOT filed animal neglect charges. Although their office is short staffed with prosecuting attorneys, the neglect charges MUST be filed.
Eastpointe has been without animal control prior to August and MDARD (Michigan Dept of Agriculture and Rural Development) mandates ALL cities MUST have animal control.
The city just hired a new city manager with a $117k salary + benefits, but is not wanting to pay the cost of finalizing the transfer of animal control to Macomb County Animal Control.
In addition to the petting zoo, a sheep was tied to the side of a trailer with no more than 5 feet to move.
The recreation authority members are on the record stating their discomfort seeing the animals mistreated at the event and don't understand why no shade was provided for the rabbit, when it had been in previous years.
When I addressed the Warren City Council about animal neglect at their birthday bash, they were very appreciative of my concerns.
A Warren councilman is working with the MI director of the Humane Society of the United States and Attorneys for Animals in drafting language to ban all traveling animal acts.
In addition to rampant animal neglect at petting zoos forcing animals to endure travel of an hour or more in trailers with no air conditioning or escape from humans when stressed, it's also a public welfare issue.
Zoonotic diseases are transmitted from petting zoos to humans that range from e coli, salmonella, cryptosporidium, Giardia infection, etc. Symptoms range from bloody to watery diarrhea, vomiting, headaches, fever, chills, etc.
When cities are aware of this, they have a responsibility to protect both animals from neglect and the public from zoonotic diseases.
Please contact the Eastpointe city council (council email addresses are listed on city website & have a Facebook page) and city attorney (586-778-7778) and request animal neglect charges are filed against PartyanimalsMI.com from the August 2nd event for violation of adequate care under the Anti Cruelty Statute regarding inadequate water/food/shelter (NO shade).
And ask that Eastpointe teaches children compassion towards animals in banning ALL petting zoos/farms and traveling animal acts.
Please do NOT support any petting zoos or circuses either. Please attend your local city council meetings and request they BAN petting zoos/farms and traveling animal acts due to animal neglect and transmission of zoonotic diseases.
There are NO "good" petting zoos, it's all about profiting off of the misery and suffering of animals.
Ignore the argument about kids having fun, the animals are NOT having fun.
The event went from 5-10 pm with approximately 20 animals.
A gray Lion's head rabbit was confined to a cage with NO shade, a 2 ounce container for water (only after I chewed out the owners), and food NOT suitable for a rabbit.
The owner claimed the rabbit had water earlier and the kids are responsible for feeding the rabbit.
The statute mandates adequate water, food, sanitary conditions and protection/shelter from the elements. In this case, the sun.
The rabbit was forced to sit in the sun for 3 hours with no shade, a blanket was not provided until I chewed out the owner for not providing shade/shelter from the sun.
As of today, October 15th, the city attorney has still NOT filed animal neglect charges. Although their office is short staffed with prosecuting attorneys, the neglect charges MUST be filed.
Eastpointe has been without animal control prior to August and MDARD (Michigan Dept of Agriculture and Rural Development) mandates ALL cities MUST have animal control.
The city just hired a new city manager with a $117k salary + benefits, but is not wanting to pay the cost of finalizing the transfer of animal control to Macomb County Animal Control.
In addition to the petting zoo, a sheep was tied to the side of a trailer with no more than 5 feet to move.
The recreation authority members are on the record stating their discomfort seeing the animals mistreated at the event and don't understand why no shade was provided for the rabbit, when it had been in previous years.
When I addressed the Warren City Council about animal neglect at their birthday bash, they were very appreciative of my concerns.
A Warren councilman is working with the MI director of the Humane Society of the United States and Attorneys for Animals in drafting language to ban all traveling animal acts.
In addition to rampant animal neglect at petting zoos forcing animals to endure travel of an hour or more in trailers with no air conditioning or escape from humans when stressed, it's also a public welfare issue.
Zoonotic diseases are transmitted from petting zoos to humans that range from e coli, salmonella, cryptosporidium, Giardia infection, etc. Symptoms range from bloody to watery diarrhea, vomiting, headaches, fever, chills, etc.
When cities are aware of this, they have a responsibility to protect both animals from neglect and the public from zoonotic diseases.
Please contact the Eastpointe city council (council email addresses are listed on city website & have a Facebook page) and city attorney (586-778-7778) and request animal neglect charges are filed against PartyanimalsMI.com from the August 2nd event for violation of adequate care under the Anti Cruelty Statute regarding inadequate water/food/shelter (NO shade).
And ask that Eastpointe teaches children compassion towards animals in banning ALL petting zoos/farms and traveling animal acts.
Please do NOT support any petting zoos or circuses either. Please attend your local city council meetings and request they BAN petting zoos/farms and traveling animal acts due to animal neglect and transmission of zoonotic diseases.
There are NO "good" petting zoos, it's all about profiting off of the misery and suffering of animals.
Ignore the argument about kids having fun, the animals are NOT having fun.