LA Pet Fair, Ban Stopped, Bulb Ban Info, & Croc Conservation

[Bogertophis]

1st LA Pet Fair! (volunteers needed) + USARK Board Meeting HUGE+++!!! The Reptile Super Show was already bursting at the seams, and now it has expanded! There will be over 6 acres of reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, and plants (some plants will be outside under a tent). That means three packed buildings with more outside. See map below. 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 is right after the show on Saturday night at 7:00 in the convention center/Sonoma Ballroom next to the Sheraton Hotel (601 W McKinley Avenue) and LA Pet Fair. Please stick around and support our work to protect your freedom to have reptiles and amphibians as pets. The auction is FREE to attend, with hundreds of donations from $5 to $5,000, plus free appetizers and a cash bar. Everyone is welcome! We have one auction preview, which is an original painting from Gamini Ratnavira of Hidden Forest Art Gallery! See a photo below of this 24x36" oil on canvas titled "Galapagos Friendship," featuring marine iguanas with Sally Lightfoot crabs. Thank you, Gamini and Lisa! 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 29: 10:00-6:00 June 29: USARK auction in the Sonoma Ballroom at the Conference Center next to the reptile building (open to the Public): room opens at 6:30 for preview and auction at 7:00 PM June 30: 11:00-5:00 Location: Pomona Fairplex 1101 W McKinley Ave. Pomona, CA 91768 USARK BOARD MEETING USARK will hold a Board meeting at this show. USARK members and herpetoculturists are welcome to attend. Board meeting details: Thursday, June 27 at 5:00 PM PST Sheraton Fairplex Hotel (room TBA) 601 W McKinley Ave. Pomona, CA 91768 Light Bulb Ban Read more information with contact details at https://usark.org/24doe/. In 2022, the Department of Energy (“Department”) passed a regulation that banned certain incandescent light bulbs. Basically, light bulbs are deemed inefficient if they do not emit a certain amount of lumens per watt. This was meant to transition from less efficient bulbs to more efficient lighting, like LED bulbs. Reptile lighting is a specialty item and is not used for general-purpose lighting in homes and businesses. However, certain bulbs were reviewed solely on how many lumens they produced per watt. Herp keepers know that halogen and basking bulbs are not used in household lamps for general lighting. Read the rest at https://usark.org/24doe/. ALERT: West Mifflin, PA (UPDATE) Read the full alert athttps://usark.org/24pa/. UPDATE 6/18: Thanks to a HUGE turnout, including USARK President Phil Goss, the Borough Council voted NO to this ordinance! This was a proposed ban on reptiles, amphibians, and tropical fish (only domesticated fish such as koi would have been legal). It also had pet limits of one bird, three dogs, and no more than five dogs/cats combined. It was BAD! Thank you to all residents who contacted the Council to voice their opposition and concerns. The Council was certainly aware of the outrage prior to the meeting. We will post updates if another ordinance is proposed but the message was made very clear to the West Mifflin Council that local pet owners will not stand for arbitrary pet limits and overreaching bans. It was an irrational approach that would not stop isolated problems. Crocfest: Conservation for Crocodiles The next Crocfest is this Saturday (June 29) at ZooTampa! "Join us for a fun-filled day at ZooTampa, where we will be raising funds to support the conservation of the Cuban Crocodile! Your donation will cover admission to the zoo, a hearty, authentic Cuban dinner, and drinks. Pick up some herp-centric goods via the silent auction and then stay for the traditional CrocFest finale... a rousing live auction! All funds benefit the crocodiles!" Full details at https://www.facebook.com/crocfests. Find A Vet Need a good herp veterinarian? The Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV) can help. ARAV offers a free Find-A-Vet service at http://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661. USARK Shirts and Hats are Available Online Our shop is open at https://usark.org/shop/(or simply click the "Shop" link in the menu on our website). We currently have two shirts and three hats available for sale.

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[Armiyana]

So glad that one ban got overturned. That was ridiculous.
People don't realize what domesticated animals actually are and how many of the animals we interact with are not considered as such... And then also probably just have some weirdo from PETA or animal hater spreading nonsense and money at them to make these bans seem like a good idea.

[Bogertophis]

Just a reminder- legislators listen to the loudest voices. They need to hear from all of us (thru proper channels & respectfully) for whom herpetoculture is important & a way of life. And we need USARK too. When we stand together, we get heard! When we stay silent, we risk having our interests steamrolled away.