Experts agree that fish are highly complex individuals who have the same capacity to feel pain, fear, and stress as mammals do, and they deserve better than to be doled out as trinkets. But the Erie County Fair in Hamburg, N.Y., via North American Midway Entertainment, c/o Strates Shows Inc., which offers all the carnival rides, carnival games, and carnival food concessions at the fair, is reportedly giving live goldfish away as prizes through August 20. To make matters worse, children were reportedly seen taking the goldfish on carnival rides, and according to one source, a child was seen “squeezing, putting in his mouth, chewing up, and spitting out his fish in front of the game where he’d won the fish,” which, if true, would be an explicit violation of New York’s anti-cruelty statutes.

Furthermore, when kept in captivity, these animals require a sizeable amount of water, climate control and filtration, regular aquarium maintenance, and ample enrichment. Most recipients of these living, feeling “prizes” are unprepared for such a commitment, and the fish suffer as a result. PETA contacted the fair organizers and asked that they exclude giving away live fish at future fairs, but to no apparent avail. These animals need your help now!

Using the following contact information, please politely urge the Erie County Fair and North American Midway Entertainment to forgo live-animal giveaways at their events and implement a policy against them—then share this alert with your friends and family.

Erie County Fair
716-649-3900
FrontDesk@ecfair.org

Please also leave a message on their Facebook and Instagram pages:

Use the form below to contact North American Midway Entertainment, c/o Strates Shows Inc. Feel free to use our sample letter at the bottom of this page.

Thank you for speaking up for animals!