Prevent Easter Cruelty

Having worked with rescue groups for years and volunteered at my local shelter, I wanted to relay this.

Georgia Alert: 3-23-05 Help Prevent Easter Cruelty and save this years crop of little chicks, ducks and rabbits

Thanks to HSUS and AHA for providing information:

Help Prevent Easter Cruelty:

Thinking about giving your children a bunny or chick as a "special" Easter present?

Here are some things to think about:
*These extremely vulnerable little animals are poorly suited as pets. *Although unintentional, the vast majority of the baby bunnies, chicks and ducks who are given as Easter gifts die within a few weeks.
*They require special feeding, care and constant temperatures.
*Small children often break their fragile bones and cause other fatal injuries.
*Those animals who do survive the first few weeks are often released to animal care and control agencies, where many must be euthanized because no permanent homes can be found.
*You may contract salmonella (which causes severe inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract) from these chicks and ducks. Children are especially vulnerable to this disease.
*This Easter, you can help prevent cruelty by giving your little ones stuffed animals. And, after the holidays, if your family is ready for a new pet, consider an adorable, adoptable dog.

Easter is March 27th. If you hear of anyone planning to give a seasonal animal, please talk to them. Some people truly don't understand what they are doing. If you know any stores that are still selling seasonal animals, please call them and ask them to STOP. Please be kind and tell them baby ducks, rabbits and chicks should not be a seasonal gift. Please provide phone numbers to people in YOUR area and ask them to call also.

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Sent by: Humane Association of Georgia, Inc.
A coalition of humane societies, animal control and rescue groups and individuals.
1317 Hearst Drive / Atlanta GA 30319
e-mail: info@HumaneAssociationofGeorgia.org
Visit our website: http://www.HumaneAssociationofGeorgia.org or select: Humane Association of Georgia, Inc. - Home Page

If you have received this message in error and would like to be removed from the list, please contact the sender. Thanks

Please join the Humane Association of Georgia. Our membership fee is $25.00 per year. Donations are appreciated. Please make your check payable to Humane Association of Georgia, Inc. and mail to the address above or select: Join Humane Association of Georgia!

About the organization:
HAGA is known for the Animal Protection Act of 2000 that provides felony-level punishment for some acts of animal cruelty and the Dog and Cat Sterilization License Plate that funds statewide spay/neuter surgeries. Our formation allowed Georgia to be the first state to enact state law to allow animals in disaster shelters. We were formed to support good animal legislation, provide education about good animal stewardship and help animals in times of disaster. HAGA is a member of Georgia Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster.