Petition updatePlease Help Stop The Tippah County Fair Rabbit Scramble60,000 JOIN ANIMAL WELFARE GROUPS TO HALT ILLEGAL “RABBIT SCRAMBLE” AT TIPPAH COUNTY FAIR
Linda SueFL, United States
Aug 10, 2016 — Contact: Doll Stanley, Director Justice for Animals Campaign, (662) 809-4483 doll@idausa.org Ripley, MS (August 10, 2016) – Over 60,000 people have joined In Defense of Animals' Mississippi-based Justice for Animals Campaign, Animal Advocacy Initiative of Mississippi, Mississippi Animal Rescue League and the House Rabbit Society to call on the Tippah County Fair organizers, community and state leaders to halt the fair’s “Rabbit Scramble” due to take place tomorrow. During the annual event, organizers release rabbits and other terrified animals into an arena and encourage small children to chase them down and catch them. Pictures and video of the event reveal the horror of the fair's frenzy, during which animals are caught by any means necessary with no concern for their welfare. Disturbing images show rabbits being dangled by their ears, choked around the neck and even dropped to the floor while children race around the arena. The “Rabbit Scramble” violates Mississippi’s state statute MSSS 97-41-5, that criminalizes the cruel handling of animals. “The cruel rabbit scramble violates Mississippi law, fails animals’ welfare and desensitizes children to animal suffering,” said Doll Stanley, In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals Campaign Director. While the Animal Board of Health in Jackson has advised fair organizers to instruct children on how to hold the rabbits, most participants are too young to carry out the instructions. The rabbits are pursued chased by young children aged four and under – an age where most children have little to no understanding or ability to handle such delicate and vulnerable animals. “Teaching children compassion towards animals is a responsibility we all share”, said Debra Boswell, Director of Mississippi Animal Rescue League. “Compassion for animals will surely go a long way toward compassion for humans and help broaden our society’s acceptance for all.” Over 60,000 people have joined In Defense of Animals, Animal Advocacy Initiative of Mississippi, the House Rabbit Society and other likeminded organizations to call on fair officials to replace the animal chase events. Fair organizers, sponsors, the Tippah County Sheriff, the Lieutenant. Governor, and other officials are being called on to replace the intrinsically cruel “Rabbit Scramble” with humane family bonding events like tug-of-war, sack races, apple bobbing, relay races, and more. “People from Mississippi and all over the country are sickened and outraged by scenes from Tippah County fair’s inhumane “rabbit scramble”. It is unacceptable to chase rabbits down for fun, and barbaric to allow such sensitive animals to be choked, dropped to the floor and dangled by their ears. We call on fairgoers to boycott the fair’s outdated animal chase events and call on organizers to replace them with fun alternatives that the whole family can enjoy together,” said In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals Campaign Director, Doll Stanley. “Mississippi's Animal Cruelty laws are some of the weakest in the nation, but even these laws are being ignored when faced with an antiquated tradition like the Farmed Animal Scramble,” said Shelby Parsons of Mississippi Spay and Neuter. “Tens of thousands of concerned citizens around the country are pleading with Mississippi law enforcement and government officials to enforce their own laws, which is extremely detrimental to our state's reputation, to Mississippians, and to Mississippi's animals.” NOTES Find more information and photos please visit: http://rabbit.org/tippah-county-rabbit-scramble/ Petitions: In Defense of Animals - 11,600 https://secure2.convio.net/ida/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2943 Change.org - 50,000 signatures https://www.change.org/p/mississippi-governor-please-stop-the-tippah-county-ms-fair-rabbit-scramble § 97-41-5. Carrying in a cruel manner If any person shall carry, or cause to be carried by hand or in or upon any vehicle or other conveyance, any creature other than a dog or cat in a cruel or inhuman manner, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. CREDIT(S) Amended by Laws 2011, Ch. 536, § 4, eff. from and after passage (approved April 26, 2011). HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES The 2011 amendment inserted “other than a dog or cat”. ### ENDS ### In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals Campaign is actively working with officials in communities, building a groundswell of support for establishing and amending city and county ordinances as part of its campaign to show state lawmakers that Mississippians will not tolerate animal cruelty. In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization with over 250,000 supporters and a 30-year history of protecting animals’ rights, welfare and habitats through education, campaigns and hands on rescue facilities in India, Africa, and rural Mississippi. www.idausa.org Animal Advocacy Initiative of Mississippi is a volunteer-run organization founded in 2016. AAIM works to promote animal-related initiatives that protect and/or promote the physical and psychological well-being of animals.
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