Goldfish at fairs

[jedimistress]

I went to a fair at the weekend. I saw 2 stalls which had lifeless goldfish as prizes. I couldn't believe this still goes on. Is it in the process of being banned?

[commoner]

dead goldfish as prizes?............mmmm...........

[jedimistress]

Is that your answer???

[B00]

I actually thought it had been banned till Pippa said her daughter recieved one as a prize from a fair last week.

I'm really disgusted that this is still being carried on, I think people genuinely think to themselves "well they're only fish"

Often people win these prizes obviously not knowing how to care for these beautiful fish, and buy a tiny tiny bowl and shove them in 'em. If the poor little thing doesn't die of shock and stress it's destined to spend it's life in misery.

A happy goldfish need a minimum 10gallon tank and can live for 30 years!

JediMistress? I'm sure the land these fairs are on are council property, may be worth giving them a ring and finding out their policy of live animals as prizes?

Sorry- will get off my soap box now.

[commoner]

...sorry Jedi that was just my odd sense of humor kicking in there...no offence meant.
........I do entirely support your view and was pleased to see that proposed Animal Welfare Bill was originally to include such a ban but here's a quote from the "Practical Fishkeeping" web page...make of it what you will.............

"The Government has dropped plans to ban goldfish being given away as prizes at fairgrounds.

The draft Animal Welfare Bill was originally going to make it illegal to give away goldfish as fairground prizes, however, Environment Secretary, Patricia Hewitt, has now dropped this from the new legislation.

The Telegraph says that Hewitt bowed to pressures from fellow ministers who feared that introducing the ban on goldfish as prizes would expose the Government to accusations of running a nanny state.

Instead, the new Animal Welfare Bill will allow goldfish to be given away as prizes to children if they are accompanied by someone over the age of 16"...............comments?

[B00]

Afriad my comment to that statement commoner is unprintable!

It does appear that what I said was true, many people think "oh it's only fish" totally forgetting that they are living breathing things capable of pain and misery.

thanks for providing that statement though, makes 'interesting' reading.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr @ them!

[commoner]

Hi again.............more "interesting" reading from the Practical Fishkeeping archives.............

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/page s/item.php?news=592

[B00]

hey I wasn't being sarcastic there commoner, looking at the " " i did I 'realise that's the way it came across.

sorry if I offended you :-(

I'll have a look at the other link you've provided.

[commoner]

....Didn't notice that BOO......no offence taken..........enjoy the links..............;-)