This Dog Is Forced to Sit Outside Citi Field, Dressed in Mets Merchandise and Sunglasses, With a Pipe in Her Mouth
New York Mets fans heading to Citi Field from the subway are sure to encounter a dog dressed up in team merchandise and sunglasses, with a toy pipe in her mouth. Her name is Sushi, and she is being exploited.
Sushi the Citi Field Dog: Why There’s Nothing ‘Cute’ About This
Sushi’s owner, Norberto Fernandez or “Charlie the Trainer,” has stationed a dressed-up dog outside Citi Field for the last 16 years, since the venue opened in 2009. Before Sushi, there were at least two other dogs, Coffee and Lola. All of their plights have been the same; they are forced to sit stone-still in all weather extremes, with no access to food or water, and offer a paw or pose for a photo once paper money has been placed in the jar in front of them. A sign stationed in front of Sushi reads, “Don’t forget I don’t like cheap people,” with links to Fernandez’s Cash App, Venmo, and PayPal, making it clear the display is all about money.
Sushi, Coffee, and Lola were all seemingly trained to suppress their natural behaviors, allegedly through the use of cruel devices like shock collars. Dogs like Sushi trust and want to please their guardians, but their loyalty is no excuse for exploiting them.
In a New York Times article about the Citi Field dog, Christina Shusterich, a dog behavior specialist who reviewed images and footage of Sushi, said, “The fact that that dog hasn’t died is kind of amazing.”
The costume Sushi is forced to wear is also cruel. There are good reasons for animals to wear clothing—like a winter coat on a dog in frigid temperatures, or shoes to protect their paws from hot pavement—but garments like Sushi wears that are sold online or in “pet” shops are made strictly for human amusement. These costumes are designed to attract attention, which subjects animals to potentially stressful social encounters in uncomfortable clothing.
What to Do if You See the Dog Outside Citi Field
Nothing says “Go, team!” less than a dog suffering outside the stadium. As athletes and fans raise a ruckus on and off the field, there’s no reason to subject real animals to the stress of being mascots—even unofficial ones, like Sushi, Coffee, and Lola.
Many rightfully concerned Mets fans have spoken out on Sushi’s behalf and have organized petitions, called for investigations, and urged the Mets themselves to act. One passionate fan even dressed up as a dog himself and stood next to Sushi, urging fans entering the stadium to pose with him instead. With more people than ever paying attention to the unofficial Mets mascot’s plight, we’re at a turning point. Mets fans, you have the power to help! If you see Sushi outside Citi Field, do not take a photo with her or give her owner money. So long as people are financially supporting this exploitation, Sushi will continue to suffer.
Speak Up for Other Animals Used as Mascots
A few dozen schools still force live animals to act as mascots. Please contact them with your objections. If you’re a student or an alum of any of these institutions, inform school officials that you won’t attend athletic events or donate money—both huge sources of revenue for universities—until they discontinue their live-animal mascot program.
