73,183 Petitioners are reaching out by email to the Mississippi Senate and the MS Animal Rescue League to respectfully step in with the Petitioners, In Defense of Animals and AAIM to stop the cruelty and abuse of animals in Tippah County MS. Animal cruelty that appears to be supported by the Tippah County Government and Law Enforcement. Please help change the way this County reprehensibly treats animal life with no regard while referring to it as fun family events; as well as their blatant disrespect of the Mississippi Animal Cruelty Laws and the Animal Welfare Act (Federal law). (Please respectfully email the contacts provided) Senator Roger F. Wicker - robert_murray@wicker.senate.gov Senator Thad Cochran - chris_gallegos@cochran.senate.gov Steven M. Palazzo - info@palazzoforcongress.com Rita Potts Parks - rparks@senate.ms.gov Mississippi Animal Rescue League - info@msarl.org Mississippi does not provide any exemptions to their animal cruelty laws which cover torturing and unjustifiably injuring Any Living Creature. Title 97. Crimes. Chapter 41. Cruelty to Animals. § 97-41-1 . Cruelty to living creatures § 97-41-5. Carrying in a cruel manner RABBIT SCRAMBLE Thursday – August 10th , 2017, 7:00 P.M. INDOOR ARENA AGE DIVISIONS: Rabbit Scramble – Age 4 and under Tippah County Fair started this Friday night 8/4/2017, the scramble dates were hidden from the public until late July. Once Again - prey animals that cannot tolerate hot summer temperatures, can have heart attacks or go into shock from fear and have fragile bones will be seen terrified while running for their lives to escape screaming running children who are being taught by adults to mistreat and mishandle them. "2016, Organizers of the fair, the Sheriff, known sponsors, and Government officials from the Governor of Mississippi to the District Attorney, the Animal Board of Health, and other officials and agencies were called on to intervene, with little consequence. Formal complaints were sent to the Governor with no response and the Ethics Commission who dismissed the complaint. Several veterinarians including Sharon L. Crowell-Davis DVM, PhD, DACVB, Professor of Behavioral Medicine of the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia, and Dr. Elliot Katz, President emeritus of In Defense of Animals contacted fair organizers, calling for mercy. "Despite the measures, the Daily Journal candidly reported several incidents of rabbit mishandling, including one man who dropped a rabbit three times, and another who dangled a rabbit by the throat. The terrified rabbits were then closed into shipping boxes with no ventilation". https://www.idausa.org/rabbits-animals-harmed-tippah-farm-animal-scramble/ Tippah County Sheriff's Office Sheriff Karl Gaillard's office was contacted by concerned citizens from all over the states, the complaints were dismissed and responses were given that the "rabbits were bred for meat anyway". Sheriff Martin Pace of Warren County MS has long been an animal advocate, and spoke about animal cruelty as a precursor to violence toward humans at the AAIM 2016 conference. Animal Cruelty Laws Are also being enforced by George County, MS– Sheriff Dean Howell. Tippah County First Monday Trade Days and Flea Market also has a disgraceful history of complaints regarding the neglectful conditions animals are kept in during intolerable heat. Puppy mill owners are supported and permitted to sell puppies, claims of stolen dogs being sold, and unsold dogs being disregarded in "special pen". Kittens, rabbits, kittens, ducks and chickens also alleged being in deplorable conditions. Flea Market References http://www.wmcactionnews5.com/story/1637527/target-5-investigates-dog-dealers https://www.facebook.com/pg/RipleyFirstMonday/reviews/?ref=page_internal Rabbit Scramble References. http://www.djournal.com/news/tippah-county-fair-makes-efforts-for-better-rabbit-care-after/article_1f13901a-5de5-54cd-a4f3-1588f88f6ef6.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/rabbit-scramble-tippah-county-fair_us_579a6a57e4b0e2e15eb50f00 Thank you for your continued support, For The Rabbits, Linda Sue