1.) We request a policy mandating the cancellation of all rabbit exhibits, shows, or public displays on any day at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds when the forecasted high temperature for Santa Rosa, CA reaches or exceeds 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

Rabbits are exceptionally vulnerable to heat stress and heatstroke. As non-sweating animals with dense fur, they are vulnerable in environments above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, states the Merck Veterinary Manual. A rabbit exhibit in a tent on a hot summer day subjects rabbits to suffering. This constitutes a failure to provide "adequate protection from the weather" under CA Penal Code 597. This would be interpreted to protect the animal from temperature extremes, especially temperature that can cause harm. As documented by the undersigned over the course of three annual fair cycles, multiple rabbits each year exhibited signs of mild to moderate heat stroke. Notice was provided to staff members on a yearly basis. Concurrent notice was also provided to the on-site veterinarian in 2023. The Fair cycle in 2025 had 5 days that exceeded 86°F. Rabbits were forced into competition in extreme heat, some showing signs of heat stroke—panting, shallow, rapid breathing, lethargy, and drooling. Proactive cancellation is a clear, enforceable standard that prioritizes care over competition.

2.) We request a policy requiring the use of solid resting surfaces (plastic foot rests, mats or fleece blanket) in all exhibition enclosures utilizing wire mesh/grating flooring.

Continuous contact with wire mesh flooring is a well-documented cause of ulcerative sore hocks--painful foot lesions prone to infection. Providing a solid, flat resting surface is a fundamental practice of modern animal husbandry. Exhibition of rabbits on bare metal wire teaches a fundamentally flawed and inhumane standard of animal care to the next generation.

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