Small animal petting zoos are antithetical to the festival's stated mission of promoting sustainability and conservation. 

Putting small animals through such an event ultimately puts their health at risk. Not only through environmental pathogens that may be spread by crowds, but also environmental stressors such as temperature fluctuations. RHDV2, a viral contagion currently spread throughout Texas, most prevalently impacts rabbits who spend extended periods of times outdoors. This disease can cause a rabbit to drop dead within days without showing any prior symptoms. It is important to note that vaccination reduces but does not totally eliminate risk of a rabbit contracting this disease. 

Other health risks: Raccoon roundworm, mites, flystrike, myxomatosis. All extremely painful conditions for a small animal to endure. 

Small animals are fragile, highly anxious animals. No matter the policy, small stressors can cause cardiac arrest. Exposing small animals to consistent stressful, outdoor environments drastically decreases lifespan by almost half.

This petting zoo also offer chicks, in which they exchange with local farmers for younger cuter animals when they’re too mature to be profitable. This is perpetuating an endless cycle of exploitation. 

Upon numerous requests for cancellation, it has been insisted that the petting zoo is worth it for fostering connections with the environment. How is promoting putting exotic animals through high stress environments wherein they're not allowed to display natural behaviors fostering any form of conservation ideals? 

This is a FOR PROFIT roadside petting zoo. However, they also have a 48 hour cancellation policy. San Marcos Earth Day can still cancel this event and truly align with the ideals they claim to emphasize. 

Is drawing a crowd for an event worth the pain inflicted on these animals? The tremendous risk that they will be put through? With two weeks to spare, lets send the message that animal abuse has no place at Earth Day!