I Just Don't Get People!

[Zenandra]

I have been looking around a bunch of different forums reading pages and pages of people griping about how badly bettas are treated. But I have yet to see anyone say they're going to go out there and do something about it. Anybody can sit at a computer and complain that something is wrong, but unfortunatly there are very few people in this world that ever do more then just sit and complain. If you don't like the way these fish are being treated then go out there and do something about it. Complain to the stores, type up betta care sheets and hand them out, write a letter to the place in question and explain exactly what they're doing wrong and how to fix it.

I know this one girl, Not going to mention names, lets just call her Sally, and she is the most dedicated person to this cause that I have ever met, shes set on saving the world and i wouldn't be surprised if she succeeded, I hope to be like her, to help these wonderful little fish like she has and to be and inspiration to other bettas lovers like she has been an inspiration to me.

So next time you see a poor little betta in a filthy cup and it makes your heart break, dont go home and sit on the computer and sulk about it, get out there and do something to help that fish and any others that may pass through that store!

 

[-Nemo-]

The problem is that most people (as in the stores) do not care. If they did, they wouldn't be so ignorant.

 

[Knox213]

Welcome to 2010.

Your Friend Sally sounds like a nice person.

Me Frankly

I Would deciate a life time to help out the world

hell i'll even go up to the goverments face and connfornt him how betta's are kept? And if he gives the look of "I Dont Care?" I Will Seriously deck him 20x Over

Today in my LFS i saw Betta's in cups. They where all sitting at the obtoom of the cups sulking a few of them where dead. Some of them LOOKED starved to death. I Hate people who would treat animals like that. Its just.. Wrong! You would'nt treat a child like that!? So why do it to a fish with personality!?!

you may think "Im One of those people who cant save betta's from cruel conditions"
No-one will isten to a 14 year old child who WANTS to chnage things.I Bleive if i tryed hard enough i could change the whole planet. Through words. You Dont have to write out care sheets s they will be ripped appart.

you just decently have to talk to them nicely And say things witch will make them feel yet About the fish. If i could Say it to most people i would. But like i sadi no-one woll listen to me.

 

[Zenandra]

You would be amazed at what one person can do if they try! I was appalled by how my 2 local walmarts were treating their bettas, so I did something about it. I printed up care sheets and informational pamphlets, I hung the care sheets up by the bettas and put a stack of pamphlets by them every day for over 2 weeks. I checked on both stores every day, talked to people interested in purchasing a betta, and called the managers of both stores every single time there was something wrong with the bettas.

It took time, persistence and almost getting kicked out a couple times, but in the end I got one store to post an informational care sheet permanently by the bettas (with all the correct info, I checked it personally) and they also cut their order by 1/2 so they were no longer getting more bettas then they could reasonably sell or take care of.

The other walmart actually stopped selling bettas all together!

One person can make a difference, you just have to be willing to try!

 

[Floyds mum]

Yes but like knox said most stores wont listen to "kids" and alot are ignorant, all we can do is tell them and warn other people about those stores. Short of harrassing stores and them possibly getting the police in there isnt much more we can do. I mean i know for a fact that most of the LFS near me wont let the public just walk in and hang posters or pamphlets up.

 

[Knox213]

Yes but like knox said most stores wont listen to "kids" and alot are ignorant, all we can do is tell them and warn other people about those stores. Short of harrassing stores and them possibly getting the police in there isnt much more we can do. I mean i know for a fact that most of the LFS near me wont let the public just walk in and hang posters or pamphlets up.

Agreed.

But if i get this job for two weeks i A&D I WILL inform people about betta living care.

( Betta's at A&D dont realy live in cups.. they live in 5 gallon tanks with various fish. )

 

[Tortea]

My LFS which really are local and aren't big chains, look after Bettas with lots of care, and treat them like............a kid.They have even named them.

In Scotland we have laws (surprise) and you are not allowed to keep any fish under 1L in a shop and 10l at home(or something like that), in Finland they have even stricter rules, you can't keep fish under 20l full stop. In Scotland you can be sent to jail for hurting ANY animal, even if its a polar bear or a betta. So if you:
-Perpisly or Acciendently put it into a tank with fish that will hurt it you are breaking the law, because you are not taking due care and attention.
-No Feeding- Breaking the law, the biggest way possible
-Keeping it in Small tanks(When in transport rules are different)but if you keep them for a overly long time in a bag, people have been sent to jail for this.
-Shops CANNOT sell fish to a person (under 18) or if the think that the animal is going to be mistreated.
-And cruelty can lead to a prison term.
-Special branch of the government/charity RSPCA have the same rights as police but cannot give out charges but refer to the police, they also have their own (very good) lawers
as i said, the look upon every animal in the same light, so they don't care if you hurt fish or a dog.


and you can imagine how surprised i was when i came to the US, i was shocked in how people where keeping them!

Tortea

 

[Zenandra]

I wish we had those kind of laws over here

 

[Tortea]

It does have its downside, you have to fill out about 2forms before you can buy a fish, and you have to take it back if it dies.And they ask a whole lot of questions and tell you loads of stuff before you buy your first fish, and when you buy more fishes they sometimes make you take a water sample.

But my LFS is great, when you buy a fish even if it dies you get a new free one for free, or if they start attacking other fish.

 

[fishyfeet]

You need to realy lobby the shops into showing proper care for these fish. They give out information and care advice so you can imagine what they are telling joe public about the needs of these fish, can they keep it in a vase, yes, can they keep it in a cup, yes, they need to say no, to these questions, they need a planted tank with a filter to remain healthy. Every betta should go to a good home, do they check this, is a care sheet given out, pet shops used to sell cats and dogs, you dont see it now, rescueing them is all well and good, you can go on forever, whilst the abuse continues its never ending wouldnt it be better for there to be no bettas in need of rescueing and you could save the whale instead. di

 

[Amberleaf]

-Shops CANNOT sell fish to a person (under 18) or if the think that the animal is going to be mistreated.

and you can imagine how surprised i was when i came to the US, i was shocked in how people where keeping them!

Tortea

What? Seriously? So, even though I keep my Bettas in optimal conditions, just because I'm a 'kid' I can't buy a Betta? Grrrr.... D

On the other hand, however; that's very good of them. Hmm.... I wonder if Stephen Harper, or maybe the people who run the Wildlife Association thingy of Canada or whatever, would like a bunch of letters requesting something like this be put into place....

 

[Knox213]

-Shops CANNOT sell fish to a person (under 18) or if the think that the animal is going to be mistreated.

and you can imagine how surprised i was when i came to the US, i was shocked in how people where keeping them!

Tortea

What? Seriously? So, even though I keep my Bettas in optimal conditions, just because I'm a 'kid' I can't buy a Betta? Grrrr.... D

On the other hand, however; that's very good of them. Hmm.... I wonder if Stephen Harper, or maybe the people who run the Wildlife Association thingy of Canada or whatever, would like a bunch of letters requesting something like this be put into place....

I May be moving to canada

And Yes.

In the Uk the age is 16?? Something like that. But my LFS Know's i can treat the fish right but still wont let me buy them! xD

good on them tbh.

 

[fishyfeet]

I think its the same for any animal (am i right) ?

Kids are fine, its the parents you have to educate?? di

 

[Knox213]

Not 100% Sure.

And My Brother wants Fish keeping as he's hobby. So i told him in two year's time he can have my Rio 180 ( If i hav'nt sold it already )

 

[Zenandra]

I would be very happy if stores would just change the advice they give people, that's what bothers me the most. I understand the need for the small cups in the store, its really the only logical way to house them, but when there's 10+ cups filled with dead rotting fish and old food, there's just no excuse for that.