2nd LA Pet Fair + USARK Board Meeting The first one was a SMASH HIT, and it returns this weekend. There will be over 6 acres of reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, and plants. That means three packed buildings with more outside (plants). See the map at the bottom of this newsletter. It also has a NEW, super cool venue (located between the show and the parking lot) for the USARK auction.
The LA Pet Fair is about love and passion for pets and animals. The show will not only give you access to your favorite animals but also provide a wide variety of educational opportunities and a chance to check out the latest husbandry and care supplies.
The USARK benefit auction will take place immediately after the show on Saturday night at 6:00 in the Avalon building, which is set up like a sports bar and grill. Please stay and support our work to protect your freedom to keep reptiles and amphibians as pets. The auction is FREE to attend, featuring hundreds of donations ranging from $5 to $5,000, along with good food and a cash bar. Everyone is welcome! We have one auction preview, which is a unique Year of the Snake watch donated by Ty at Cal Zoo. Cal Zoo has donated some other snake-themed items, but you will need to attend the auction to see what they are.
USARK needs volunteers for this massive event. Just send an email to vanessa@usark.org if you can help. We need the most help on Saturday to prepare for the Saturday night auction. Some assistance is also needed on Sunday. Volunteers are greatly appreciated! Thank you to all who can help.
All show details are on the website at https://www.lapetfair.com/.
Schedule:
June 28: 10:00-5:00
June 28: USARK auction in the Sonoma Ballroom at the Conference Center next to the reptile building (open to the Public): room opens at 5:00 for preview, food, and bar, and the auction starts at 6:00 PM
June 29: 11:00-5:00
Location:
Pomona Fairplex
1101 W McKinley Ave.
Pomona, CA 91768
USARK BOARD MEETING USARK will hold a Board meeting before this show. USARK members and herpetoculturists are welcome to attend.
Board meeting details:
Thursday, June 26 at 5:30 PM PST
Sheraton Fairplex Hotel
601 W McKinley Ave.
Pomona, CA 91768
ALERT: New Palestine, IN UPDATE 6/18/25: The ordinance was tabled at tonight’s meeting. The Council reported that they are still working on the language and did not want to move forward with the draft that was posted for tonight’s agenda. USARK’s Phil Goss testified on behalf of responsible animal owners. New Palestine residents should monitor the Town’s website and Facebook page for updates and meeting agendas. USARK will obviously also provide updates.
Full details at https://usark.org/25in/.
ALERT: Lincoln County, NC UPDATE 5/5/25: The hearing was tonight, and the Commissioners tabled the proposal (meaning they did not vote, and it will come back amended at a later date). No one spoke in favor of the proposal. Those who spoke in opposition included USARK’s Phil Goss, Buddy Waskey from the American Federation of Aviculture (AFA), one reptile owner, a young pet “exotic” (per this proposal) owner and her father, and several exotic mammal owners. The Commissioners stated that more research would be done before another proposal was presented. Thank you to everyone who opposed this very overreaching proposal that would have banned all pets except dogs and cats (and even those contradicted the bad definition of domesticated animals). Those who showed up stopped this!
previous alert: Lincoln County, North Carolina, has proposed a ban on all animals not native to North Carolina, so this applies to fish, birds, mammals, herps, and invertebrates. The County is updating its animal ordinance, but the draft includes some very overreaching measures. This does not seem to be intentional, but we do not want a poorly worded law to pass, as future enforcement could crack down on anyone, and the law could also be copied in other jurisdictions. Lawmakers need to hear opposition from local residents.
Lincoln County residents must contact City Council members ASAP! This may be voted on in May. We have a sample letter below. Remember to be civil and professional! If you are a non-resident (such as another organization, veterinarian, herpetologist, educator, professor, zoologist, relevant professional, etc.), please compose a letter and include your title and credentials.
What was proposed:
- A ban on all animals not native to North Carolina (as they will all be listed as “dangerous wild animals”);
- The only pets allowed as “domesticated animals” are those “that are indigenous to Lincoln County and normally, customarily share human habitation in Lincoln County and are normally dependent on humans for food and shelter in Lincoln County, such as dogs and cats.” (even though dogs and cats are not indigenous);
- A ban on ALL breeding of animals not native to North Carolina;...
Read the proposal text, contact information, a sample letter, and more at https://usark.org/25nc/.
Facebook alert at https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1095441595945602&set=a.615159700640463.
NEW SHIRTS! The new shirts have just arrived! We have two styles (see below): blue-tongued skink and ball python. The ball python logo is an online exclusive, and we will not have this shirt at shows. It is also limited to fewer than 300 shirts available. Order your shirt and other swag at https://usark.org/shop.
Both designs from Adeline Robinson Art are screen-printed on cotton/polyester blend shirts that are extremely soft and wrinkle-resistant.
 
UPDATE: Federal Light Bulb Ban UPDATE May 7: Reptile, amphibian, and other animal keepers will get some relief from the Department of Energy ban on specialty animal care light bulbs. Bulbs that were unreasonably banned will be available again, provided a special sticker is applied to the packaging. This is great news for animal welfare! We have an excerpt below and have included a link to the full Enforcement Policy Statement. Thank you to everyone who engaged on this issue!
"Pursuant to Executive Order 14154, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces that effective immediately it will not take enforcement actions against any seller of noncompliant general service lamps (GSL), where such GSLs are marketed and sold exclusively for use in the care of reptiles, amphibians, or other small animals. Any other sale of non-compliant GSLs is subject to the discretionary enforcement powers of DOE...
As DOE initiated enforcement actions for sales of noncompliant GSLs, veterinarian and zoo organizations, along with concerned reptile owners, reached out to DOE expressing concern over the sales ban, which they claimed prevents them from obtaining lamps used for the health and care of their reptiles, amphibians, and other small animals. These groups indicated that they regularly use certain lamps, which meet the GSL definition but fail to meet the standard, for the lamps’ infra-red and heating properties, which foster the growth and development of reptiles, amphibians, and other small animals. These groups have requested that DOE exempt from the GSL sales prohibition any lamp marketed and sold solely for use for the care of reptiles, amphibians, or other small animals...
To be given enforcement leniency under this policy, a manufacturer or retailer must affix to all such lamps the following warning label:
This lamp is only available for purchase under DOE’s limited Enforcement Policy for GSLs Marketed Exclusively for Animal Health and Care. The purchaser is advised to consider suitable, available substitutes."
Read more at https://usark.org/24bulbs/.
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