Animal-welfare & public-health concerns at upcoming Reptile Super Show in Pomona
Please copy and paste the letter below and send to the Pomona City Council Executive Assistant, Maria Montellano.
You can also sign on to this letter below. But sending it personally is more effective. Do both!
Urgent: Animal-welfare & public-health concerns at upcoming Reptile Super Show in Pomona
City of Pomona
200 E. Mission Blvd.
Pomona, CA 91766
Re: Request Regarding Reptile Super Show at Pomona Fairplex
Dear Mayor and City Councilmembers,
I am writing on behalf of Our Honor, a network of veterinarians and animal professionals, to urge the City of Pomona not to host the upcoming Reptile Super Show at the Pomona Fairplex on January 10–11, 2026. At the very least, we ask that the City take immediate steps to ensure that state and federal laws are enforced if this event proceeds.
At the most recent Reptile Super Show held in Anaheim, I personally documented serious violations of both public health and animal welfare laws:
A tegu lizard confined upside down in a plastic cup.
Turtles under four inches in shell length offered for sale in violation of federal law (21 CFR § 1240.62), a regulation enacted specifically to prevent Salmonella transmission to children.
Numerous biosecurity concerns, including attendees handling reptiles and then lining up at food vendors.
Animals confined without access to water and without appropriate substrate, in direct violation of California law.
Endangered Eastern Indigo Snakes offered for sale despite federal protection under the Endangered Species Act.
These are not isolated incidents. Every year, Salmonella causes an estimated 1.2–1.35 million illnesses and up to 450 deaths in the United States. Children under age five are among the most vulnerable, and repeated CDC investigations have traced multistate Salmonella outbreaks directly to small turtles sold at reptile shows. At least one infant has died from such an infection.
Despite these risks, reptile expos continue to be marketed as family-friendly events. With weak or nonexistent oversight, sellers are able to profit while flouting laws designed to protect both animals and the public.
Pomona should not allow its facilities to be used in ways that endanger children, families, and animals. If the Fairplex continues to host this event, we urge the City to require and enforce strict compliance with:
FDA regulations prohibiting the sale of turtles under four inches in shell length.
California law, which says “Potable water must be accessible to the animals at all times or provided as often as necessary for the health and comfort of the animal.”
California Penal Code § 597t requiring adequate exercise space. Violation is considered a misdemeanor.
All applicable federal wildlife protections, including the Endangered Species Act.
The City of Pomona has a responsibility to protect public health and uphold the law. We respectfully request that you take action now—either by declining to host the Reptile Super Show at the Fairplex, or by ensuring meaningful enforcement of all relevant laws.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Crystal Heath, DVM
Our Honor
