Small animals like goldfish, Green Anoles, and Hermit crabs have been sold at fairs and carnivals in the United States for decades. This needs to stop. It is inhumane, and problematic for both kids and parents.

The way the animals are treated at these events is inhumane. A pet should be something you heavily think about getting, not an impulse. No one that I know of goes to a fair specifically to get a fish, so it’s purely impulsive. The animals are also kept in poor conditions. At my local fair, goldfish were kept in coolers with visibly murky water, and the anoles were kept in a tiny wire cage with a red light, which  are harmful for their eyes. The hermit crab shells are also almost always painted, which is toxic for them.

 Having live animals as prizes is also stressful for both the parents and kids. The animals are often very sick or low quality, causing them to die easily which is stressful for young children. Surprise pets are also stressful for adults. The carnival workers don’t give out proper enclosures for the animals, so they either stay in the tiny plastic box they come in or the parents have to go out and spend a good chunk of money on an enclosure. This can be extremely stressful especially if money is tight. 

 What’s the solution? Instead of live animals, stick to playing games that have stuffed prizes instead. Eventually, we can try to make having live animals as prizes illegal altogether