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 July 11-12, 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
This letter is submitted with 163 public signatories collected via Our Honor’s online advocacy platform.
Nicole Corrado
Barbara Hodges, DVM, MBA
TUCKER THOMAS
George Bates
Carina Chadwick
Larrea Cottingham
Hillary Liband, M.A.
Sherstin Rosenberg, DVM
Bernadette Andaloro
Janet Geren
Linda Farrell
Ji-Young Kim
Kathleen Makolinski
Lynn Hoang
Erik LaRue
Anne Fassin
Karen Bacon
Aimee Schmidt
Lynn Freudenberg
Louise Harvey
Jill Kulig
Melissa Kehl, DVM
Rem Cutler
Maia Broussard, DVM
Betsy Coville
Rosamund Downing
Jennifer R.
Kim Culbertson
Ronald Willson MD
Barbara Biel
Denise Guimarais
Bruce Cutts
Standridge
Shannon Hunter
Madeline Graham, DVM
Christine Capaldo, DVM
jean publie
Jeri cheraskin DVM
MICHELLE LANG
Dr. Kevin Boileau, PHD
Stephanie Vanderpool
Lisa Kulemin, DVM
Gary Block DVM
Brian ield
Christine Stewart, D.V.M.
Rachel Griffith DVM
Robert A Rieck Jr
Laurie Methven
Juliana Harris
Barbara S Shor
Heather Lange
Silvia Rocha
Laura Sminkey
Anne Downes DVM
Michael-David Kerns
Christine Lofgren
Laura Cochrane DVM
Cori Craft
Michael Davanzo
Karen Rubio
Madeline Fitzpatrick MD
Claire Ramsey
Andrew Umphries
Melissa McCormick, MSc, RVTg
Debbie Wall
Jim Loveland
Karen Emanuel
Alana L WILLROTH
Karin Nelson
Dr. John Brooks
Leona Cerbone, RVT
Roy Wessbecher
Cristina Erni
Christine Mora Pineiro
Megan Tremelling
Meghan Shannon DVM
Gary Zimmermann
Gail Bumsted
Sharon Bates
Cierra Buer, DVM
Donald Helfrich
Debra Curci
Monica Ramirez
Carol Anderson
g harman
Shannon Hunter
Denise Guimarais
Andrew Umphries
Kathleen Makolinski, DVM
Nora Coyle
jean publie
Karen Emanuel
Debbie Wall
Jennifer R.
Lynn Hoang
Guy Fagot
Kim Culbertson
Nicole Gianni, DVM
Cassidy Thompson
Christine Capaldo, DVM
Rev. David Sickles
Kaitlin Domingue
Cynthia Burke
Amy Allen
Laura Bessette
Nicole Corrado
Lynn Hoang
Carina Chadwick
Kim Bartlett
Janna Perkins
Edwin Perry
Guy Fagot
Flora Pino García
Amanda Tompkins
Laura Sminkey
George Bates
Alana L WILLROTH
Jim Loveland
Karen Emanuel
Gail Bumsted RN
Debbie Wall
Nicole Corrado
Denise Guimarais
Hillary Liband, M.A.
Flora Pino García
Rem Cutler
Jennifer R.
Rosamund Downing
jean publie
Michael Davanzo
Erin McDonald CVT
Vincent L
Andrew Umphries
Debbie Wall
Cierra Buer, DVM
Denise Guimarais
Linda Savage
Anna Ramsey
Tucker Thomas
Nicole Corrado
Pia Bolognesi
Lynn hoang
Jennifer Doll
Christine Capaldo DVM
Jim Loveland
Amy Allen, DVM
Flora Pino García
Michael Davanzo
Janine Angeletti
Debbie Wall
Dr. Pia Bolognesi
Janna Perkins
Flora Pino García
Helen Lebrecht
Jacqueline Mahon
Nicole Corrado
Peggy Erickson
Lynn Hoang
Tucker Thomas
Kathleen Makolinski, DVM
Pat Dufau
Jim Loveland
