Los Angeles, California, Rabbit Giveaway Is Halted

April 2002

A Los Angeles activist contacted PETA about his struggle to convince a property management group in the city to cancel an Easter contest in which the prizes were live rabbits. Until the contest, the rabbits were being displayed, along with several ducklings, inside one of the buildings that the company manages. It is illegal in California to give rabbits or ducklings away, and we immediately contacted Los Angeles Animal Services officials to notify them of the contest. Los Angeles Animal Services issued a cease-and-desist order and, with help from PETA and the local activist, arranged for the ducklings to be turned over to a wildlife rehabilitator who could care for them until they could be released into a natural habitat. The rabbits were turned over to a local rescue organization for adoption into loving, permanent homes.