SENT: Tuesday, 8/4/2009 TO: SANTA ROSA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SUBJECT: WILDLIFE (FOX) PENNING ISSUES I am writing to you about a "hunting" practice that occurs in your county. It is affectionately known as "fox penning". Although this activity is legal as defined by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC), it is not only cruel, but inhumane to the prey confined within the pens. The email listed below is what I have sent to the FWC commissioners. It outlines the issues that my family is enduring on a daily basis and provides additional information about the cruelty of "fox penning". If you would like to view firsthand accounts of this "sport", please go to our webiste, EndTheHunt.org and view the videos on the links page. The reason I am sending this email to you is that the owner of the pen next to our family is run by Mr. Mike Howington, who is a correctional officer for Santa Rosa County. I felt that you all should be made aware of the on-going issues associated with his pen. The previous pen owner was arrested and charged for operating a non-permitted coyote pen. In addition, we are aware of several Santa Rosa County sponsored "fox penning" events that have been conducted recently. For example, on March 22nd a "5 Hour Speed & Drive Derby Hunt" was held in Holt to benefit Relay for Life. This event was sponsored by the Santa Rosa County Clerk of Court. As you can read in the email below, we have been driven to the point of turning this issue into a public awareness campaign. We intend to write editorials and have the local newspaper and television stations run stories about this activity. What will come to light is not only the persons involved in this activity, but sponsors of this "sport" as well. We certainly hope that Santa Rosa County will distance themselves from any appearance of involvement in this cruel "sport". I appreciate your time to read this email and I certainly hope that you all go to our website and watch the videos. ------ NO REPLY TO DATE ------