Stop Inhumane Betta Fish Confinement
- by: S Frame
- recipient: Meijer Inc.
Dear concerned consumers and respecters of animals
I am asking you to sign this petition to persuade the Meijer Corporation to end its inhumane treatment of betta fish. These fish have somehow come to be conceptualized as decorative household fixtures instead of living creatures. They are wrongly thought to be able to comfortably survive in tiny enclosures with little environmental regulation. On the contrary, these fish have specific environmental needs like all other creatures. Betta breeders encourage owners to provide their fish with a diet designed especially for bettas, a bare minimum of a 2-gallon tank, and specific temperature settings.
The Meijer Corporation is perpetuating the betta fish myths and modeling horrendous treatment of these animals by displaying them in their stores in small plastic or glass containers...even in plastic beverage cups barely half full of water as I recently witnessed in a new Meijer in Urbana, Illinois. Further, Meijer is encouraging this kind of confinement by selling "tanks" such as those made by Penn-Plax which hold .2 gallons of water and are 5-1/2 inches wide by 4-inches across.
I am tired of walking through aisles of groceries and encountering a disgusting display of what should be energetic, vibrant fish floating lifelessly in isolated bowls with only a few cups of water - their fins ragged and their futures indeed very bleak. Animals are not "inventory."
Please help me demand that the Meijer Corporation end this inhumane practice by no longer selling bettas. Tell them that they can be the pioneers that set new standards for large retailers' treatment of animals.
We the undersigned are asking the Meijer Corporation to end sales of betta fish. These fish have somehow come to be conceptualized as decorative household fixtures instead of living creatures. PETA has referred to this misconception as a "fad" that is making "victims" of the fish. They are wrongly thought to be able to comfortably survive in tiny enclosures with little environmental regulation. On the contrary, these fish have specific environmental needs like all other creatures. Betta care experts encourage owners to provide their fish with a diet designed especially for bettas, a bare minimum of a 2-gallon tank, and specific temperature settings. (For detailed expert information, please see Marcus Song's published guide.)
We are deeply concerned that the Meijer Corporation is perpetuating the myths surrounding bettas and modeling inhumane treatment of these animals by displaying them in their stores in small plastic or glass containers. Further, Meijer is encouraging below-standard confinement by selling "tanks" such as those made by Penn-Plax which hold .2 gallons of water and are 5-1/2 inches wide by 4-inches across.
We are tired of walking through aisles of groceries and encountering a heartbreaking display of what should be energetic, vibrant fish floating lifelessly in isolated bowls with only a few cups of water. Efforts to stop Wal-Mart from selling bettas kept in similar conditions have been made, but we are asking the Meijer Corporation to establish itself as the pioneer in finally setting new standards for the treatment of these fish in large retail stores. The population of eco-conscious shoppers such as ourselves continues to grow and we hope that Meijer will retain our business and support through adoption of animal-friendly policies.
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