Comments on: U.K.: great moments in animal welfare law

By: Bill Alexander

Bill Alexander — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 16:07:36 +0000

How does a child in Briton prove they are 16 years of age on a normal basis? Do they require ID cards for all ages? Do you need travel permits to pass county borders?

By: Charles Platt

Charles Platt — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 03:22:18 +0000

To me the real importance of this story is that–as we all know–if you have enough laws, you can always find a way to convict someone of something. A British friend tells me that the pet shop had a history of sleazy practices and inhumane treatment. Everyone knew about it, so, the police had to do something. And what they apparently did was say to themselves, “If we send a 12-year-old to buy a goldfish, then we can crack down on the place.”

A depressingly familiar scenario, more newsworthy in this one instance because of the giggle factor.

By: mojo

mojo — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 21:50:16 +0000

“Furthermore, we found that the only reason it was on the perch in the first place is that it had been nailed there.”

By: A.W.

A.W. — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 21:05:30 +0000

waste

could be worse. in cannada even the mounties are unarmed. to paraphrase robin williams, “what do they do if someone is fleeing from them? ‘Stop! Or I will… say “stop” again!'”

By: A.W.

A.W. — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 21:03:22 +0000

Edward

come to think of it, your approach is much more eloquent than mine. good show.

By: Waste93

Waste93 — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 19:36:21 +0000

Isn’t the UK the same place they give ‘cautions’ to first time burglars and thieves? So selling a pet to a 14 year old gets you a leg monitor. Breaking into someone’s house and taking their TV gets you a stern talking to?

By: Edward

Edward — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:40:22 +0000

Grannies selling goldfish is one of the greatest perils our society faces. The moral perversion of this act is grotesque and reprehensible.

I am thoroughly pleased that lawmakers made such a horrible thing illegal, and that police wisely spent their resources creating a sting operation to catch these evil grannies. The world is a better place now and I will sleep easier at night.

By: Bob Lipton

Bob Lipton — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:07:03 +0000

The chicken was delicious.

And carp makes good gefilte fish.

Bob

By: Richard Nieporent

Richard Nieporent — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:58:13 +0000

“causing unnecessary suffering to a cockatiel by failing to provide appropriate care and treatment after council officers noticed a cockatiel bird in the shop in need of veterinary care with a broken leg”

I think this is just another Monte Python sketch.

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~ebarnes/python/dead-parrot.htm

By: Dennis N

Dennis N — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:37:15 +0000

Obviously, the police and Persecution [sic] are overfunded.

When goldfish are outlawed, only outlaws will have goldfish.