UPDATE: Speak Out Against Animal Giveaways in Parkersburg, West Virginia!

Gambill Amusements has made the compassionate decision to forgo animal giveaways at its future events! Thank you to the company and to everyone who spoke up in behalf of the goldfish being doled out as booth prizes at Grand Central Plaza in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

See Gambill Amusements’ Announcement on Facebook

Original post:
Experts agree that fish are highly complex animals who have the capacity to feel pain, fear, and stress, just as mammals do. They deserve better than to be doled out as trinkets.

Orange and white goldfish with blue background

However, a carnival organized by Gambill Amusements and being held at Grand Central Plaza in Parkersburg, West Virginia, is reportedly giving goldfish away as prizes to its game booth attendees. When kept in captivity, these animals require a sizeable amount of water, climate control, water filtration, regular aquarium maintenance, and ample enrichment. Most spontaneous recipients of these living, feeling “prizes” are hardly prepared for such a commitment, and the animals suffer as a result.

PETA contacted the carnival organizers and asked that they exclude this booth from their events but to no apparent avail. These animals need your help now!

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 Ingrid E. Newkirk

“Almost all of us grew up eating meat, wearing leather, and going to circuses and zoos. We never considered the impact of these actions on the animals involved. For whatever reason, you are now asking the question: Why should animals have rights?” READ MORE

— Ingrid E. Newkirk, PETA President and co-author of Animalkind