PETA Wants Miss Maryland Pageant To Stop Giving Furs As Prizes

HAGERSTOWN—

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has emailed a letter to the executive director of the Miss Maryland organization asking that it not give away fur prizes at future pageants.

PETA also is asking the current Miss Maryland, Carlie Colella of Hagerstown, to donate the fur coat she was awarded to PETA’s anti-fur campaign, according to a copy of a July 6 letter PETA sent to Colella.

Neither Miss Maryland Executive Director Sherry Rush nor Colella could be reached for comment Wednesday.

The Herald-Mail received an email Wednesday from the account of Miss Maryland board member Courtney Thomas that reads, “Miss Maryland is participating in a photo shoot today. Sherry Rush, Miss Maryland’s Executive Director, accompanied her to the photo shoot and has not had the opportunity to review any correspondence from PETA.

“The organization cannot comment at this time,” reads the email, which was signed “The Miss Maryland Organization.”

On June 26, the day after Colella was crowned Miss Maryland, Rush said Colella’s prizes included a $3,000 fox fur donated by Maryland Fur Trappers Inc.

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