Psst Kid, Wanna Buy a Goldfish?

Every so often you come across an article in the news that leaves you shaking your head and wondering what the world is coming to. This is one of those stories. Joan Higgens, aged 66, a pet shop owner in northern England has been fined, given a curfew and electronically tagged, because she sold a goldfish to a fourteen year old. Apparently it is illegal to sell pets to anyone under the age of sixteen, as minors are deemed incapable of taking care of the animals.

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Comments

You're right, what IS this world coming to when a miscreant of this magnitude isn't thrown into the deepest, darkest dungeon and locked away forever!

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 03/31/10 at 12:17 PM

So artist Marco Evaristti can put 10 goldfish in 10 functional blenders and invite members of the public to switch them on and he's not only a responsible adult but an artist? But a fourteen year-old who wants a pet is incapable and irresponsible and anyone handing one of these precious living creatures over to their care is a criminal!

The law is an ass, as is whoever prosecuted her for this and whoever judged this case.

Posted by Dumbfounded on 03/31/10 at 12:27 PM

The article says that they set up a sting - the council hired the fourteen year old and sent him to the store to buy the fish, hoping to catch this woman in the act. And they did that because a few weeks before she apparently sold a gerbil to a teen with mental problems who dunked the gerbil in some coffee. Seriously? This is what the police are spending their time and money on in northern England?

Posted by Nethie on 03/31/10 at 08:28 PM

i prefer my gerbils dunked in milk.
hey this is a great example of why even the english call the uk the nanny state.

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 03/31/10 at 11:07 PM

I've heard of gerbils and duck tape but milk?

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 03/31/10 at 11:56 PM

actually i won't even touch a gerbil. they have long tails like rats and mice. SHUDDER! (duck tape?)

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 04/01/10 at 12:17 AM

Awww rats aren't all bad, didn't you see The Secret of NIMH?

Posted by Nethie on 04/01/10 at 05:08 AM

once again i worship at the feet of the pun-master! :wow:

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 04/01/10 at 12:02 PM

Most excellent Dumbfounded, you win 😊

Posted by Nethie on 04/01/10 at 10:01 PM

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