|
C R E A T E A D |
Fish - animal rights?
| #1 :: October 25th, 2010 @ 3:26 AM | |
 Bond   2,364 Posts 565 Achievements  
|
Every year, the fair comes to my town. It's always a lot of fun, and my friends and I go on a bunch of dangerous rides, but every year we get a little down as we see all of the balloon popping or hook-a-duck games that give out fish as prizes. Last night, as we were walking past such a stall, a small boy - no older than 6 - won the game, was handed a fish in a bag, and proceeded to swing the bag around in the air. Fish aren't mindless - true, they aren't 'intelligent' on the same scale as some other animals, but they don't have the 3 second memory they are reported to and they are living, breathing animals that can feel pain. The idea of handing out puppies to whatever kid or guy won at a game stall without a thought to if they will be happy or even survive is horrible, and would absolutely not be tolerated. Why, then, is it with fish? Is it because they do not live as long, or are less intelligent? People aren't as bothered because they're not cute or interactive in the way that dogs and cats and horses are? That the idea of killing fish is a lot more accepted in society than the killing of other pets, since we see dead ones in our supermarket everyday, alongside other animals cultivated for slaughter? I'd be very interested to see peoples views on this. C:  Last Edit by: User not found (1): Florida 10/25/10 - 3:28:19 am
|
| #2 :: October 25th, 2010 @ 4:01 AM | |
 CrucifyIs Lonely  7,878 Posts 643 Achievements |
Regardless of their lifespan or intelligence (Or how "adorable" they are), they should have exactly the same rights as everyone else. They may be adapted to aquatic life, but that doesn't make them a mindless shell that can't feel anything if attacked. Tumblr | dA | Art Ping | Art Shop | Pokémon | Art by Last Edit by: User not found (1): DUSKNOIR 10/25/10 - 4:02:47 am
|
| #3 :: October 25th, 2010 @ 4:11 AM | |
| RedSekhmet Do you have a life?  6,784 Posts 863 Achievements |
 They definitely should stop handing out fish at carnival games. Animals are NOT prizes, I think it sends the message that they are disposable when you hand them out to people who happened to get lucky enough to win a ring toss.
|
| #4 :: October 25th, 2010 @ 5:39 AM | |
| DiNozzo Is the Pumpkin King!  2,067 Posts 241 Achievements |
They got buried the same way I'd bury any other pet. They are more intelligent than most people think, and just because they're not fuzzy and you can't cuddle them doesn't make them any less loveable, you can still bond with them. They truly deserve more respect than what they get, and being given out as a carnival prize is pretty terrible.
|
| #5 :: October 25th, 2010 @ 10:13 AM | |
| Jireh The Advertiser  2,066 Posts 581 Achievements |
 I agree. Fish shouldn't be handed out willy-nilly as prizes. I don't think /every/ kid who wins them is interested in taking care of them, or they could be kids like Darla in the movie Finding Nemo who enjoy abusing fish. I say boycott handing out fish or other animals as prizes! |
| #6 :: October 25th, 2010 @ 10:18 AM | |
| Crucify Is Lonely 7,878 Posts 643 Achievements |
(I thought of that kid too xD) Tumblr | dA | Art Ping | Art Shop | Pokémon | Art by
|
| #7 :: October 25th, 2010 @ 10:50 AM | |
| DiNozzo Is the Pumpkin King! 2,067 Posts 241 Achievements |
They probably do it because it's cheap and most kids like animals/want pets, so it gets them to play the games. But I agree it shouldn't be allowed, anymore than giving out any other animal should be. And as for the "not cute" thing, that all depends on your definition of cute. To me fish are just as cute as a kitten or a puppy, and although you can't cuddle them, they are still just as affectionate and playful, in their own way.
|
| #8 :: October 25th, 2010 @ 10:51 AM | |
| Crucify Is Lonely 7,878 Posts 643 Achievements |
@DiNozzo Tumblr | dA | Art Ping | Art Shop | Pokémon | Art by
|
| #9 :: October 25th, 2010 @ 10:56 AM | |
| DiNozzo Is the Pumpkin King! 2,067 Posts 241 Achievements |
True, it's pretty sad. They deserve more love and respect than most people give them ):
|
| #10 :: October 25th, 2010 @ 4:50 PM | |
| Waterlily Is a Survivor  1,077 Posts 276 Achievements |
I honestly don't understand why it isn't illegal to hand out fish. Fish nor any other animal are NOT prizes. People who don't believe fish have feelings are just ignorant. Not to mention all the common misconceptions there are about fish ("They are easy to take care of" or "They are a good pets for children.") that pet stores tell people all the time just to make a little money. And aren't goldfish commonly handed out at fairs? They can live 5-10 years if taken care of properly. My goldfish are going on 4  In my opinion, fish are probably the most highly abused animal on the planet and the things humans do to them are outright disgusting.
|
| #11 :: October 25th, 2010 @ 5:06 PM | |
| Cavalier is a SUPER USER!!!  1,250 Posts 364 Achievements |
I think it's sad how they treat the fish. It's just plain cruel. Especially- ESPECIALLY at the carnivals. It's like hoarding animals.
|
| #12 :: October 25th, 2010 @ 5:47 PM | |
| victorian_era Gets Around  3,308 Posts 354 Achievements |
 I absolutely hate it, but it's done because it's cheap and it gets the kids to come- plus once they get one, it'll die and they'll want another. Where do they go? The fair. More money to the vendors. I'm not saying fish of any kind are the easiest OR hardest pets to own, but they are still living creatures with specific needs and care. You can't just dump a fish, or any animal, on someone who has no prior knowledge. I actually had a teacher in 4th grade who would give out fish as prizes for I-don't-remember, but I hated it and tried to win them all because I knew I could take care of them and didn't trust my classmates to do it. Related note, I absolutely despise animals as gifts at any time unless it's known that the receiver can properly take care of the creature. Rabbits/ducks/chickens/lambs for Easter, puppies/kitties/bunnies for Christmas, animals for birthdays, rabbits/guinea pigs/fish as carnival prizes- just no. When research is done beforehand by the receiver (or whoever will be the primary caregiver such as a parent :p), then it's okay. For example, I got a lamb for my birthday. But I've had two lambs before, so that situation is okay. But I came across someone once who had won a friggin RABBIT at a carnival because it was in the raffle. Luckily her cousins had rabbits so she wasn't clueless, and she found me, but if it had ended up in anyone else's hands who knows what could have happened. Fish are no different, either, but the dumb vendors don't care about the safety of the fish just the money they get. 
|
| #13 :: October 25th, 2010 @ 11:25 PM | |
Newbie  0 Posts 54 Achievements |
Sure, I would love to win fish at carnivals.. if they look like this:
 But in general, freshwater fish are very easy to care for, but I doubt most parents will be responsible enough to help their children care for the fish properly, so I do not support it.
|
| #14 :: October 26th, 2010 @ 1:38 AM | |
| Selene Donated to the Cash Shop  1,635 Posts 224 Achievements |
I always thought they should have given out fully stocked fish bowls (bowl, gravel, tank decoration etc). It's probably cheaper for the carnival and it's more humane. Adore me
|
| #15 :: October 26th, 2010 @ 10:32 PM | |
| TrystanDragon Is Lonely  1,586 Posts 260 Achievements |
|
| #16 :: October 26th, 2010 @ 10:42 PM | |
| Kageshi Silly Spamming Sausage  231 Posts 508 Achievements |
I never thought of that this before. Truthfully I don't mind. What I do mind is when the jerks get the cheap 5 cent and try swallowing the fish for fun. Fish are easy for kids to start learning about animal treatment because there are millions of them. However, when someone knows what they're doing is wrong that's what gets me mad.
|
| #17 :: October 27th, 2010 @ 1:10 AM | |
| Judi Made a Living  228 Posts 548 Achievements |
 Thats wrong, I am glad we dont do it here. My reasoning, where will that fish end up if it does make it home alive with the child? Down the toilet? In a glass? Or does every single kid have a tank at home waiting for a win? I hope this is a habit we dont start here in Australia 
|
| #18 :: October 27th, 2010 @ 2:08 AM | |
| SING is a SUPER USER!!!  7,322 Posts 391 Achievements |
Do people for real do this? I'm Canadian (from a fairly small ish sized city) and I've never seen this. I've been to "bigger" fairs across different provinces and I've never seen this happening. It's strange to me, and for sure should be illegal. I always thought people treated fish much differently than other animals. Example, my family is fairly religious, and whenever they aren't allowed to eat meat, there's always a side note that eating fish is okay. I guess they aren't classified as animals? I'm sure there's a religious reasoning behind it, but it's always intrigued me. If you aren't allowed to eat meat, fish ARE animals, therefore meat. But that's kind of a side note. Anyways, this should for sure shouldn't be happening. What happens when those kids come home and their parent disapproves of the fish? Let's face it, lots of parents don't want their small kids to have pet fish. The tanks are expensive, not to mention the time consuming tasks of cleaning it and feeding the fish. It's just a big hassle that I'm sure lots of parents want to do without. What happens to the "prize" then? Do they just get flushed away? It's the same idea as throwing away a broken toy that the parent doesn't want to deal with anymore. Which is totally wrong. Interesting topic for sure!
|
I got your back Jack, doges be crazy.
| #19 :: October 28th, 2010 @ 8:43 PM | |
| Atelier is a Sun-Worshipper  220 Posts 580 Achievements |
 I think its pretty strange that people find it ethical to just assume that the(any) animal will be okay no matter who they hand it to.Just like a new puppy you need to know the responsibility of owning one. I know it a fish and many people don't understand the even just tapping on the tank can hurt one so imagine the damage swinging a bagged one.  
|
| #20 :: October 29th, 2010 @ 11:17 AM | |
| Kiwako Blabbermouth  668 Posts 265 Achievements |
 Quote: never thought of that this before. Truthfully I don't mind. What I do mind is when the jerks get the cheap 5 cent and try swallowing the fish for fun. Fish are easy for kids to start learning about animal treatment because there are millions of them. However, when someone knows what they're doing is wrong that's what gets me mad.] This ^ I do not support the handing out of goldfish at carnivals or festivals, but I won't go out and boycott the crap out of it. Fish are very, very easy to take care of and teach younger children responsibility. I think as long as the child AND the parent are willing to take care of the fish, I think it would be fine to hand them out... to a point I suppose. However, when I do see the fish being mistreated (swallowed as dares, swung around in bags, dropped on the ground and left to die, etc.), it really does piss me off. Again, fish may be small and easy to care for, but they're still animals.
Last Edit by:
Kiwako 10/29/10 - 11:19:29 am
|
| #21 :: October 29th, 2010 @ 1:28 PM | |
| Smaug Made a Living  868 Posts 333 Achievements |
I would be quite sad if they stopped handing out fish at carnivals. Do you know what they do with the fish that aren't awarded? Tossed out to die, left behind when the carnival picks up to leave. They just the fish out of their bags and dump them on the ground. So let all the kids that want them take those fish home. I got my first fish from a carnival game, and I was one very, very excited child. As Kiwako said, they do teach (some) kids responsibility. Children can learn a lot from taking care of fish. You could go buy one, I suppose, but there's nothing like the feeling you get when you're five and you can brag to your friends about actually getting a fish out of the hardest game in the whole place. You get to watch that fish grow up with you.
How is it, by the way, any different than getting a fish from the store? You pay a few bucks to get the tickets to play the game, you pay a few bucks or cents for a fish at the store -- you probably wind up paying more for a carnival goldfish than a store bought one anyway. The living condition for fish in pet stores is the same, or worse, than carnival fish. I could go on about that, but I'll try to stay on topic. My first pet was a fish gotten from a carnival came, and now my number one interest in life is the well-being of animals and the support of their rights. I don't see "rights" as they are written constitutionally. Every living creature has their natural "rights", but if we gave animals all of the rights that humans have, there would be utter and absolute chaos. You wouldn't be able to have a pet dog, no cats, not even an aquarium. You couldn't have horses, you couldn't even raise chickens to have eggs for breakfast. We are not a superiour species, we just happen to have the ink and paper, and the rights we give ourselves makes it impossible for "lesser species" to live by the same token. Handing out fish at a carnival doesn't suggest that the fish are stupid or of less worth -- at least, not to me. Even if puppies or kittens were given out, I would consider it one hell of a way to get a friend. It's surely no different than posting "for free" ads in a local news paper? I see those all the time. Free kittens, free puppies, etc, etc. Heck, I got an uncommon and expensive lizard for free a few weeks ago. Those animals can go to anyone as well. Look at the big picture. There's a lot more wrong in the world of animals than just carnival fish. If you want to help something, help something that you can get back up for. Real back up. Boycott free-pet ads in newspapers. Or dog fighting. Or something substantial. Local fairs are generally annual, and the fish don't have very bright futures until they're taken to be given away as prizes. They might have something to look forward to there. My animals aren't pets, they are my life partners, and I love them every bit as I'd love a member of my own family. I have fish, cats, dogs, I have had everything under the sun in my house and outside it, and because I don't mind either way if fish are given out as prizes doesn't mean that I look down on animals. Quite on the contrary.
|
| #22 :: October 29th, 2010 @ 1:40 PM | |
| Lypsyl Is a Master Chef!  9,527 Posts 1,249 Achievements |
I'm not much into animal rights. I do think food animals should be treated humanely, that researchers should be required to follow guidelines for animal experiements, that puppy mill and other forms of animal abuse should be illegal. But I'm not fanatical about it.
However I agree that fish shouldn't be given out as prizes in carnivals. @Ebonycrow - the difference between going out and buying a fish at a store and winning one, is that when you buy the fish you are prepared to care for it. You would have an aquarium, food, and be prepared for the ongoing costs. That is not the same as winning one. As for how carnivals dispose of unwon fish, that's another reason to ban them as prizes, not a reason to continue giving them out. If they aren't allowed to give them away, they won't have them in the first place in order to dispose of them.
|
| #23 :: October 29th, 2010 @ 1:55 PM | |
| Smaug Made a Living 868 Posts 333 Achievements |
How so? Parents who aren't prepared to own a fish shouldn't allow their children to play the game, or allow their child to take the fish home. That's just logic. But I suppose some people don't think through it. And in the same way, some parents would buy their kid a fish at the store if they wanted it that badly, just to make them shut up -- prepared or not.
Carnival fish are generally recycled fish from the pet trade. They have no future either way. Either dump them because no one is buying them at the store, or send them to the carnival. Most are quite ill, which is why they're given to the carnival in the first place, and why they die after such a short period of time.
|
| #24 :: November 1st, 2010 @ 11:54 PM | |
Only has Room for One  23 Posts 14 Achievements |
I agree. It makes me mad that dogs and cats have more rights simply because they're looked upon as more appealing and intelligent.
|
| #25 :: November 7th, 2010 @ 12:44 PM | |
| calicomeow Newbie  3 Posts 12 Achievements |
I agree. It always makes me mad when I see a fish mistreated. Everyone thinks think of fish as toys. Goldfish and Bettas seem to get the worst of it. I used to not care about fish, and so didn't care if they were given away like that, but then I got myself a few fish and that has changed. It should be illigal for fairs and carnivals to give away fish like that. I had a cousin who went to a friends birthday party, and the party favor was a goldfish! That made me mad. My cousin had no idea how to care for it, and my guess is none of the other kids did either.
|
| #26 :: November 7th, 2010 @ 1:13 PM | |
| Jenni Do you have a life?  6,948 Posts 581 Achievements |
Wow. They banned fish in bags as far as I know in England because of the cruelty. They are still living creatures at the end of the day. I know I can't say much because I used to go fishing, but I would put them back as soon as I'd reel in. I have a pond full of fish and a tank in the house with two fish. I hate it when people think, "they have no brain, so let's torture them." ): People like that have no brains, but we don't torture them.
|
| #27 :: November 7th, 2010 @ 6:29 PM | |
| Monologue is Darksided!  2,290 Posts 750 Achievements |
 Quote By @Ebonycrow: I got my first fish from a carnival game, and I was one very, very excited child. As Kiwako said, they do teach (some) kids responsibility. Children can learn a lot from taking care of fish. You could go buy one, I suppose, but there's nothing like the feeling you get when you're five and you can brag to your friends about actually getting a fish out of the hardest game in the whole place. You get to watch that fish grow up with you. My first pet was a carnival goldfish when I was six. He actually lived for quite a long time, and caring for him turned out to be a really great experience. I remember the only reason my dad let me play the game was because he said that learning responsibility was important. Isn't it the same as buying a pet in the pet store? Children learn responsibility and how to properly raise animals through raising another living being (as I'm sure most people had some sort of pet when they were little, no matter how short the time), so the means of obtaining the animal doesn't matter too much. Quote: the difference between going out and buying a fish at a store and winning one, is that when you buy the fish you are prepared to care for it. You would have an aquarium, food, and be prepared for the ongoing costs. That is not the same as winning one. There are people who actually buy puppies and kittens from the pet store and then abandon them out in the street. Surely, if they went to buy it, they should be more responsible than the child winning the goldfish from the carnival game? That thinking is ridiculous; there is no guarantee that a supposedly healthy animal from a pet store will be better treated than a fish from a carnival booth, or that the person buying is properly prepared for raising the animal. If that's the case, animal shelters would have much fewer animals in them, and there would be no strays on the streets.
|
| #28 :: November 7th, 2010 @ 7:04 PM | |
| coral is a Sun-Worshipper  970 Posts 588 Achievements |
I think they shouldn't hand out live animals out for prizes. I mean, they probably hand out fish only because they are cheap, and they breed well. Fish are actually smarter than we give them credit for. They can obviously feel pain when we harm them and the child that was swinging the bag around was practically killing the poor fish. I don't understand why they hand out fish in bags. Do they expect them to live in the small plastic bags with barely enough room for them to swim in? Fish need space and if you're going to hand out fish for prizes, you may as well give proper supplies to take care of one. It's the parents choice to let the child play the game, they may as well take responsibility for the fish and it's habitat because as soon as they hand the bag containing goldfish and water, it's life is in your hands. How will you choose to take care of it?
|
| #29 :: November 7th, 2010 @ 8:27 PM | |
| Smaug Made a Living 868 Posts 333 Achievements |
@Monologue Same. Every time the fair came to town I made sure to get more fish. I felt like I was really good at that game, and got lucky with some pretty fish. :) Sometimes they'd live a while, sometimes they wouldn't. If I went to the fair today, I'd play that game until my arm fell off, because I love fish. Most pet stores that sell puppies and kittens aren't even that great, anyway. I've seen a lot and there is not one pet store that I am impressed with. Petco/PetSmart are good because they offer adoption services from local shelters, but I don't consider them a "pet" store because their variety (at least in my area...) is pretty much parakeets and iguanas. But, I've gone into the "best of the best" pet store in my area and it is piss-poor to the umpteenth degree. I've seen kittens in there with conjunctivitis, puppies with skin rashes, fish tanks where all the fish were dead... It's really depressing. And everything is being offered at a price so that it's a definite profit. I was thinking about getting the baby ferret they had, but it was $160! Good grief. I think that the reasoning that pet store pets are any better is all backwards. It's okay to buy a pet, but not win one. If we're talking real rights here, then the option to buy a pet from a store shouldn't even be considered, given what pet stores are! I was spending quality time with the unfortunate animals at the flea market today. A lady sold pot bellies for $50 each to people who were prepared to feed the pigs cat food. Rabbits were $10, and they had numerous eye infections and lord knows what other illnesses. It's sad, and people pay for them, and they turn around and really don't care. Especially if you're buying them for children. Parents buy their children a lot of things just to make the child happy for a short period of time, and when they're tired of it then it's time to sell it in a yard sale or just throw it away. I foster unwanted animals. I know how it goes. It is really, really sad. But it doesn't matter what someone pays for the animal if they don't know how to take care of it. Animals are status symbols in the middle class. (And that's going into something else for another time.) Last Edit by: User not found (1): Ebonycrow 11/07/10 - 8:29:56 pm
|
| #30 :: November 7th, 2010 @ 8:48 PM | |
| raevynLUSH Gets Around  406 Posts 276 Achievements |
 I had a goldfish that I won at a fair that lived for 8 years once! She died about a year ago and I was devastated  I currently have 4 goldfish (3 comet, one black moor) and I love them just as much as my cat and my dog. Fish are animals just like kitties! They should be treated the same way. Though I do eat seafood, and other meats...so I guess I'm a hypocrite. Whatever. 
|
| #31 :: November 7th, 2010 @ 8:51 PM | |
| Monologue is Darksided! 2,290 Posts 750 Achievements |
Quote By @snowlight: I don't understand why they hand out fish in bags. Do they expect them to live in the small plastic bags with barely enough room for them to swim in? Fish need space and if you're going to hand out fish for prizes, you may as well give proper supplies to take care of one. If you consider space, when you walk into a pet store many times the goldfish tanks will be so full of goldfish that those fish can't even get enough space to swim in. And yet no one complains about the limited amount of space in a pet store goldfish tank but harp on one in a plastic bag at the carnival. And when you buy fish from a store, they still go into bags, and no matter how you look at it, that fish is going to be jostled in some way, shape, or form on your ride home before you can deposit it safely into its tank. So it is okay for me, as a kid (since when mostly it's the kids who are all excited about taking their new pet home with them and so carry the bag), to take my bought goldfish from the store home in a plastic bag but not ones that I won in a carnival game, which are also in a baggie? Quote By @ebonycrow: Same. Every time the fair came to town I made sure to get more fish. I felt like I was really good at that game, and got lucky with some pretty fish. If my tank wasn't full enough as it is I'd totally go to the annual fair and get another one. Our fair has bettas in little tanks (the size they advise you buy for a single betta in the pet store, so again, I don't see the fuss with winning fish from this), but I've never won one of those before. But as it is, I'm making plans instead to relocate some of my goldfish to another tank to give them some more room. Three of them are getting really big, but I've had them for years. Quote: I think that the reasoning that pet store pets are any better is all backwards. It's okay to buy a pet, but not win one. If we're talking real rights here, then the option to buy a pet from a store shouldn't even be considered ^ This. I don't think I need to justify myself. If 'real rights' (and I use those words loosely) were implemented, there would be no such thing as pets. End of story. Last Edit by:
Monologue 11/07/10 - 8:53:06 pm
|
| #32 :: November 7th, 2010 @ 9:09 PM | |
| Smaug Made a Living 868 Posts 333 Achievements |
@Monologue Haha, my tank never stays full enough. I'd get a new fish every time I went out if I could. But I can't get new, young fish because my eel is a hungry hippo. :C So I haven't gotten any "new" fish for a while. Cichlids are about all I can get. Got five African now, all Malawi cichlids I think. My brother got himself an upside down catfish for Christmas and it has buddied up with my eel and they're pretty much inseparable now. BUT. Exactly. No pretty puppies, no cute kittens, and a MASS of animal overpopulation. We'd have to throw all our pets out on their own -- which, if I'm correct, PETA wants. Dogs don't have the ability to revert to their wild state like cats do, if abandoned. They would starve to death, die of disease, or something else just as horrible. People would release tropical and salGenitalser fish into local waterways and, like the snakehead, invade and imbalance native species. Same for reptiles and birds. It would be a horrific situation for every living creature. Pets aren't a bad idea if someone knows how to take care of them, they're really like an extension to the family. I hate it that some people can't see that. :( Last Edit by: User not found (1): Ebonycrow 11/07/10 - 9:09:55 pm
|
| #33 :: November 7th, 2010 @ 10:15 PM | |
| coral is a Sun-Worshipper 970 Posts 588 Achievements |
@Monologue
When you buy a fish, you actually have the intentions to take care of one. Sure, puppies and cats may end up abandoned on the streets but have you ever thought of why? Maybe they were in desperate situations and thought maybe the pet would be well fed and living a better life if someone were to pick it up and take care of it. Others have cruel intentions. There are in fact pet stores that sell fish in crowded tanks, but they are being fed fish food, live in suitable water temperatures with plants etc. Some people that win them from carnivals leave them in the plastic bags until they die from starvation or from no space. When people buy them from pet stores, they quickly put it in their tank or what ever proper living space they bought for the fish. And I'm pretty sure the fish won't be jostled in some way, shape, or form because when you buy a fish, you would most likely take care not to do things to harm it.
|
| #34 :: November 7th, 2010 @ 11:41 PM | |
| Ranyx Only has Room for One  125 Posts 94 Achievements |
Bah who cares about fish, Except when they are flavored with lemon :3 Too soon? I dont see fish on the same level as other creatures and im just being honest. I think my dad used to shoot them out of a gun or shoot them with a gun or something.
|
| #35 :: November 7th, 2010 @ 11:55 PM | |
| CommanderShepard Blabbermouth  562 Posts 294 Achievements |
I've been going to my friend's home before work for weeks now and every time I go I visit her fish, talk to them and watch them swim around. At first they'd swim away from me, now they come to the side of the tank I'm by when I approach them. They're certainly not mindless and unworthy of care. As a side note, I won a fish like that once as a kid. I was one of the kids who cared about the fish--waited till the end of the fair so it wouldn't be in the bag for long and carried it gingerly when I had it, opened the bag to give it fresh air here and there. My mother told me that I can't feed fish as much as humans get fed, but she left it up to me to feed it. Aaand DESPITE all that I still killed it. Too many flakes. Typical child's mistake, but my point is that despite all my best intentions I was still COMPLETELY unprepared to care for it, and 98% or more of those fish are being condemned to an untimely death. Oh the worst part was that I had to throw a ping pong bowl into fish bowls and if I threw it into a bowl with a fish in it I won the fish... I would hate to be swimming around and suddenly get hit in the face with a ping pong ball. Last Edit by:
Vael 11/08/10 - 12:04:03 am
|
| #36 :: November 8th, 2010 @ 7:09 AM | |
| Shepard Is a Survivor  901 Posts 404 Achievements |
 Over the Summer, I would work on the Point Pleasant Boardwalk, selling hermit crabs and beta fish in a little shop. I saw kids buy Beta fish, and carry them around for the entire day. Quite frankly, it disgusted me. Not only is it hot outside (way to hot for fish), but they're in a small temporary bag that was meant to last for, at most, about an hour or two. Not several. Fish may not be cuddly, or even have the adorable factor that puppies and kittens have, but they're still living. I don't think they should be given out as prizes anymore, or even sold at the beach, it's unfair and cruel. Fish make awesome first-time pets for kids, I won't deny that. I cared for my two beta fish (divider tank) for 3 years, and I got them when I was 6. I'm not saying children shouldn't be allowed to have fish at pets, but there are just some places where it's unacceptable for them to be given. Last Edit by: User not found (1): _Takainu_ 11/08/10 - 7:13:13 am
|
| #37 :: November 8th, 2010 @ 8:59 AM | |
| Smaug Made a Living 868 Posts 333 Achievements |
Quote By @snowlight: @Monologue No, not really. Refer to _Takainu_'s post. And as I said, just because someone buys something doesn't mean that they have any intention to take care of it whatsoever. Fish are very, very inexpensive, and very, very dispensable. Quote By @snowlight: Sure, puppies and cats may end up abandoned on the streets but have you ever thought of why? Maybe they were in desperate situations and thought maybe the pet would be well fed and living a better life if someone were to pick it up and take care of it... Absolute bollocks! I rescue cats off the street and OUT of shelters. Cats aren't abandoned on the street because people think they'll find a better future somewhere else. People abandon cats and dogs because they simply do not want them. People who abandon pets and hope that they'll have some type of future take them to shelters, and people who REALLY care take them to an SPCA. People who feel animals can be disposed of on streets have no consideration for the animal whatsoever, no matter what situation they're in. For example, my aunt is on the point of bankruptcy but she continues to house animals that are dumped at her house. She barely has the money to feed them, but she takes them in because they've already been abandoned once. Taking pets to a shelter is as free as dumping them off on someone else. Abandoning them on the street is lazy and careless. I have no sympathy for a person who does that, and they deserve every ounce of bad karma that comes their way for doing it. Quote By @snowlight: Some people that win them from carnivals leave them in the plastic bags until they die from starvation or from no space. And that is exactly what happens to the fish who aren't sold at pet stores or won in the games. Fish who don't get sold in the stores either go to another store, go to a fair, or just get dumped. Fish are seen as recyclable, and so they go around until there's nowhere else for them to go. If you want fish to be treated fairly then they need to be taken out of the pet market entirely. Quote By @Ranyx: Bah who cares about fish, Except when they are flavored with lemon :3 Too soon? I dont see fish on the same level as other creatures and im just being honest. I think my dad used to shoot them out of a gun or shoot them with a gun or something. A lot of people have the same sentiment. xD Fish don't return the affection that they get, they're not "emotional", but they do have the ability to sense pain. Fish are way down on the food chain, just about every animal that preys on them will treat them that way. I mean, I'm sympathetic toward them, but I also think that they taste great... x) Quote By @_Takainu_: About 2 years ago, I lived in a small beach town known as Spring Lake. I think that your post is a great example as to why buying fish is no better than winning fish in a carnival. Just because people spend money for them doesn't mean that they understand fish or are prepared to treat them fairly. And in reality, you're paying money for the tickets to play the fish game, so technically are still buying the fish even at the fair. Last Edit by: User not found (1): Ebonycrow 11/08/10 - 9:01:16 am
|
| #38 :: November 8th, 2010 @ 1:29 PM | |
| Daley is a Time Lord  1,521 Posts 575 Achievements |
 Am I a totally horrible person for suddenly feeling like fish and chips? XD Regardless, pet shop debates aside (because that's a whole different kettle of fish... pardon the pun), I don't think ANY animal should be given out as a prize. It's funny because people seem to think fish are easier to take care of and you just whack em in a container and throw them food and no worries she's right mate. Oddly enough, I have the opposite experiences. I've owned a few fish in my time and I've always TRIED very hard to look after them. I had all the filters, did the cleans when it was recommended to, had the water treaters, fed them the right amount etc etc etc. But I seem to seriously have the touch of death with fish - I don't seem to be able to keep any alive beyond about 6 months and that's WITH all the best intentions (although apparent total ignorance). Yet I've had my cat for 9 years now and he's as healthy and happy as you please XD I think it's because it's more obvious when something is wrong with a larger animal - same thing goes with pain I think. You can't really tell a fish is in pain, so people think it's okay to be cruel to it. I just don't buy that at all. On top of that, the attitude it promotes with the kids receiving them as prizes REALLY bothers me. Also, totally agree with @Ebonycrow. I've worked with the Animal Welfare League, and I have 0.00 tolerance for people who abandon their pets. Take it to the local rescue organisation. They MIGHT end up putting it down yes, but they might also be able to find it a decent home. And if you're in such dire financials that you can't pay the fee (I'm not sure about all, but I know our local one asks that you pay a fee to cover a few expenses when you leave an animal with them), they are usually more than willing to negotiate on this point. There is no excuse for just abandoning an animal. None.
|
| #39 :: November 8th, 2010 @ 8:34 PM | |
| coral is a Sun-Worshipper 970 Posts 588 Achievements |
@Ebonycrow
When I said that, I meant the majority. Sorry If I didn't word that right. If people didn't mean to take care of fish as a pet, what else would they intend to use it for besides for prizes and pets? Use money to buy it just so they can watch it die? I don't think many people would do that. Also, when people abandon cats and dogs, there are many reasons as to why. I was just saying my opinion, my reasoning as to why this happens, I also want to note that you're going off topic. I used that as a example. And not handing out prizes is just a way to prevent harm from pet fish in a problem that's most likely going to kill the fish. I never said, or meant, that fish shouldn't be sold.
|
| #40 :: November 8th, 2010 @ 8:55 PM | |
| Smaug Made a Living 868 Posts 333 Achievements |
@snowlight
I think you would really be surprised... I go to the fish section at Walmart and just hang out and watch people. The stories some share, and the fish they get, would be a real eye opener to some here. Fish require a lot of understanding to take proper care of, but people just get what looks pretty and do whatever with it, and when it dies in two weeks they come and get another. They put ten or so blacklight danios in a one gallon tank and then come back a week later and get more and stuff the tank so full that they all die. And come get more. Or they get aggressive fish that kill all the rest, can't figure out why, and keep stocking their tank so that the aggressive fish continues to kill the others. And, so on. I was replying where I felt it was important to, and there is a lot that still needs to be replied to. Yes, I understand there are a lot of reasons as to why people abandon their cats and dogs. But there is no reason that is acceptable for dumping them on the side of the road. None. If you wouldn't give a fish out as a prize at a carnival, you sure as hell wouldn't dump your dog on the side of the road. "...prevent harm from pet fish in a problem that's most likely going to kill the fish." A problem that is most likely going to kill fish is sitting in a tank at a pet store. They are overcrowded, stressful, and often carry diseases and fungus that can spread to other fish that go into that tank if not treated or disinfected before changing the stock. Go early in the morning before they clean the tanks and count how many are already dead. Count again at the end of the day. It isn't pretty. I've seen some fish lay dead in tanks for days before being taken care of. The cruelty fish face at carnivals is hardly any different, and hardly compares, to cruelty fish face in stores. To say that fish need to stop being handed out as prizes because it's "cruel", and to say that fish in pet stores are treated better, is just poppycock. In reality, fish that get handed out in carnivals probably face a better life than not. Again, fish are recycled, their last stop is being thrown out on the ground to die. Recycled store fish that get to go to carnivals, and have a chance of getting taken home by some kid who'll look after them for a little while is a heck of a lot better than dying slowly in the hot sun.
|
© 2006-2013 Agoge, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
About Subeta | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Link Back | Apply for Staff | Rules
Use of this site signifies your acceptance of the Terms and Conditions