It has become pretty publicized that Fear Factor on NBC aired an episode called "Snake Bite" where the contestants were biting Pythons and Boas and putting them in a different container.
Not only are they causing physical harm by biting the snakes, the snakes were cooled so they were slower and not aggressive towards the contestants.
The laws obviously broken were:
West's Ann. Cal. Civ. Code § 3340 - Exemplary damages may be given for injuries to animals committed in disregard of humanity either willfully or through gross negligence.
West's Ann. Cal. Penal Code § 597 - This statutes states that anyone who maliciously and intentionally maims, mutilates, tortures, or wounds a living animal, or maliciously and intentionally kills an animal, is guilty of an offense punishable by imprisonment in the state prison, or by a fine of not more than twenty thousand dollars ($ 20,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment, or, alternatively, by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, or by a fine of not more than twenty thousand dollars ($ 20,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment. The statute also defines specific forms of torture and mistreatment that qualifies as a crime under this section.
While none of these fines would really affect the pocket books of NBC, something should definitely be done in order to prevent any future abuse inflicted to animals by any TV show for the entertainment of the public!
I have started this petition that gives you the NBC email as well as a link to the SPCA website and phone number where you can report the incident! This should not go unnoticed!
http://www.change.org/petitions/stop...rmless-animals