Letter To Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin

If you are a nature lover you must see this video, and write a letter of your own!

Here is mine;

Dear Governor Fallin,

Please enforce the law already on the books; Title 21, Part 5, Chapter 67 of statute 1685 prohibiting injuries, abuse, and neglect to animals in the State of Oklahoma, in the barbaric festival called the "Rattlesnake Round-up."

"§ 1685. Cruelty to animals

Any person who shall willfully or maliciously torture, destroy or kill, or cruelly beat or injure, maim or mutilate any animal in subjugation or captivity, whether wild or tame, and whether belonging to the person or to another, or deprive any such animal of necessary food, drink, shelter, or veterinary care to prevent suffering; or who shall cause, procure or permit any such animal to be so tortured, destroyed or killed, or cruelly beaten or injured, maimed or mutilated, or deprived of necessary food, drink, shelter, or veterinary care to prevent suffering; or who shall willfully set on foot, instigate, engage in, or in any way further any act of cruelty to any animal, or any act tending to produce such cruelty, shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary not exceeding five (5) years, or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one (1) year, or by a fine not exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00). Any animal so maltreated or abused shall be considered an abused or neglected animal.
CREDIT(S)
R.L.1910, § 2746; Laws 1997, c. 133, § 384, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 1999, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 5, § 276, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 2003, c. 363, § 1, eff. July 1, 2003; Laws 2006, c. 188, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2006."

(Source: Animal Legal and Historical Center; http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusokstt_21_1680.htm#s1680_2 )


Here is how the law pertains to the practices of this festival;

These animals are routinely and intentionally injured and mutilated by sewing their mouths shut and removing their fangs, which in effect deprives them of food and water as well as subjecting them to pain and disfigurement merely for the perverse entertainment of onlookers. They are placed in a freezer, and often killed as well. As far as I'm aware they are rendered no veterinary care for these injuries.

The organizers and participants in this abuse as far as I know have not been jailed nor assessed the above referenced fine this law compels.

Rattlesnakes are wild animals, not exempt from the protections laid out in this statute, and they fulfill an important function in nature's ecosystem; to rid the environment of excessive rodents which may carry disease transmissible to humans and other domestic animals and livestock.

In addition, their venom is currently being used to develop medications that show promise for curing a number of human diseases. For these reasons it's in all our best interests to keep them safe and sound for years to come.

Fear on the part of humans regarding venomous snakes, entertainment, or revenue should not be considered valid reasons to look the other way and allow them to be hurt or killed.

Such public functions as the Rattlesnake Round-up should not be treated as exempt for the purposes of this statute.

Please write and let me know what you will do to enforce this law both retroactively and in the future should more of these festivals be held.

Sincerely,

Pippit Carlington


Contact Governor Fallin here;

(Fastest) E-mail: info@gov.ok.gov  
(Correction: Tried this and it was rejected. Will be sending it via snail mail).

Governor Mary Fallin
Oklahoma State Capitol
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Room 212
Oklahoma City, OK 73105

Local: (405) 521-2342

Fax: (405) 521-3353
Office Hours & Additional Information

Tulsa Office of Governor Mary Fallin
440 S. Houston Ave, Suite 304
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74127

Phone: (918) 581-2801
Fax:  (918) 2835