More goldfish appeals, please protest goldfish races

BACKGROUND

Hoping to draw in customers, several restaurants and bars in the U.S. are holding weekly “goldfish races”—events during which patrons armed with bottles or water guns squirt goldfish down the length of plastic gutters. Making matters worse are reports that drunken patrons have impaled some fish with cocktail straws and have swallowed others alive. We’ve asked these establishments to replace the cruel events with alternatives, to no avail. We need your help now!

Fish are complex beings who have personalities, communicate with each other, form bonds, and even grieve when family members and companions die. Being handled and subjected to loud noises and bright lights is a terrifying ordeal for such tiny, defenseless animals who have no opportunity to escape and who are viewed by the bar managers as expendable commodities.

Please join us in urging the below establishments to cancel these weekly events and replace them with activities that do not cause harm.


WHOM TO CONTACT

Schulyer Holes
Co-owner
Woodsky’s
Seattle, Washington
206-547-9662


The Fillin Station Grille
Southaven, Mississippi
662-510-5423
http://fillinstationgrille.com/?page_id=14 (e-mail web form)


Kristie Gadino
Manager
Sol Cantina
Kansas City, Missouri
816-931-8080
http://www.solcantina.com/contact/ (copy and paste for email web form)


SAMPLE LETTER

To Whom It Concerns,

It has come to my attention that you have created a cruel event known as “goldfish races”, and I am respectfully requesting that you cease this activity.

Please allow me to elaborate. Fish are complex animals who experience suffering and joy, and who also have the capacity to nurture complex relationships and display grief upon separation. Furthermore, despite an almost-universal apathy towards their sensitivity, fish indeed experience pain and react negatively towards stressful situations including loud noises, lights, enclosures, shooting water, and disturbed environments.  Although patrons may find this amusing, it is indeed a painful and terrifying experience for the fish.

Please take this opportunity to express compassion and empathy for our animal friends and decide to help rather than harm them by discontinuing the fish race.

Thank you for taking the time to read this urgent appeal.

NAME

SEE MORE:

• Compassionate Eating
• Cruelty-Free