The following appeal for change is written by Gabriel, our 8 year old son.

I do NOT believe animals should be should be given as prizes from game vendors at the Ashtabula County Fair. I also think game vendors at the Ashtabula County Fair are treating the animals they are giving as prizes in the wrong way.

   I started thinking about writing a petition about this after my experience at the fair in August 2015. I went to the fair with my grandma and saw a ring toss game where you can win an iguana. I played the game, and I won! Then we researched how to care for an iguana and we learned iguanas should be fed fresh vegetables. The fair vendor was feeding the iguanas crickets. I fed Emmy (that's what I named my iguana) what he needed, but very sadly, he died. I got very angry at the fair game vendor who mistreated Emmy before I won him.

  I think ALL of the animals that are given as fair game prizes (hermit crabs, fish, etc.) should not be at the Ashtabula County Fair. If this petition doesn't change the act of animals being given away as prizes, then more and more animals will die. Also, more and more people just like me will be sad. But if this petition does cause a change in procedures, then less animals will die and less people will be sad. I strongly believe fair vendor prize animals are not being treated appropriately at Ashtabula County Fair, and encourage those people who CAN make the change, to make the change.