Why doesn't the SPCA do something?

"Donald Kerns" wrote in message
...
Sigh,

I was watching Seasame Street with my daughter this morning. Elmo takes
his pet goldfish "Dorthy" to the vet.

"Dorthy" is probably a 2.5" SL fish, being show in... oh... 1/2 - 2/3s
of a gallon of water in a bowl.

The vet pronounces "Dorthy" completely healthy and says that Elmo is
taking very good care of it.

[zoom in on fish]
"Dorthy" is hovering near the bottom, fins as tightly clenched as I've
ever seen. Even looks a bit de-colored.

That was one STRESSED fish.

Sigh.

-Donald
--
"There is nothing so strong as gentleness, and there is nothing so
gentle as real strength." St. Francis de Sales

It's very frustrating how children's programming perpetuates myths about
what animals like. I just talked my daughters through an episode of Dora
the Explorer, a show I normally love. However in today's episode, Dora is
helping a lion who wants to join the circus. So, we had a chat about what
animals would actually prefer and how sometimes animal trainers are not very
kind to lions & other animals.

I feel for Elmo's goldfish, but be glad you're able to help your daughter
understand how fish really like to be kept. I also intend to write to the
show's producers. The more people make themselves heard, the better the
chance of eliminating these stereotypes.

Jacqui

For ****s sake its a children's program, How many people do you know that
has a live Elmo, living in a cage in the lounge room,, Does it really matter
if the fish was alive or
pretend with a six inch grin, and green ears,, It,s a children's program,,
How many kids want to be like Elmo and live in the garbage bin.

How bloody paranoid are you, Take a powder, Grow up, or switch the
tellie off..

What about all the fish keepers that feed Live goldfish, to there Oscars
and other predatory fish.. or guppies, or baby Brine Shrimp, or nice fat
wriggle worms.

Tell me do you get "Bob the Builder" you would really like that,

Love bassett








Chris + Jacqui wrote in message ...
It's very frustrating how children's programming perpetuates myths about
what animals like. I just talked my daughters through an episode of Dora
the Explorer, a show I normally love. However in today's episode, Dora is
helping a lion who wants to join the circus. So, we had a chat about what
animals would actually prefer and how sometimes animal trainers are not
very
kind to lions & other animals.

I feel for Elmo's goldfish, but be glad you're able to help your daughter
understand how fish really like to be kept. I also intend to write to the
show's producers. The more people make themselves heard, the better the
chance of eliminating these stereotypes.

Jacqui



"Donald Kerns" wrote in message
...
Sigh,

I was watching Seasame Street with my daughter this morning. Elmo takes
his pet goldfish "Dorthy" to the vet.

"Dorthy" is probably a 2.5" SL fish, being show in... oh... 1/2 - 2/3s
of a gallon of water in a bowl.

The vet pronounces "Dorthy" completely healthy and says that Elmo is
taking very good care of it.

[zoom in on fish]
"Dorthy" is hovering near the bottom, fins as tightly clenched as I've
ever seen. Even looks a bit de-colored.

That was one STRESSED fish.

Sigh.

-Donald
--

Having endured a few episodes of Sesame Street, it is always the same,
nearly unmoving image of Dorothy the Goldfish. And your fins would be
clamped too under those lights - it is hot.
Cheryl

Bassett, take a chill pill.

I think the point being made is, childrens shows
should stop stereotyping situations. It doesn't
help them learn. yes Elmo is ficticious - keeps
children amused - lying about a healthy fishes
characteristics doesn't interest them (well it might)
and if it does, get it right!


As regards to fish eating fish, well thats a different
matter. A fish can live in a small, polluted environment
and suffer for quite a long time. If it was swallowed
it'd probably die quite quickly.

Heres a scenario:
Hey would you rather, given the two choices only!!
have a fox torn slowly to death by hunting dogs, or
shot in the head - instant kill?

"bassett" wrote in message
...
For ****s sake its a children's program, How many people do you know
that
has a live Elmo, living in a cage in the lounge room,, Does it really
matter
if the fish was alive or
pretend with a six inch grin, and green ears,, It,s a children's
program,,
How many kids want to be like Elmo and live in the garbage bin.

How bloody paranoid are you, Take a powder, Grow up, or switch the
tellie off..

What about all the fish keepers that feed Live goldfish, to there Oscars
and other predatory fish.. or guppies, or baby Brine Shrimp, or nice fat
wriggle worms.

Tell me do you get "Bob the Builder" you would really like that,

Love bassett


I fail to see how I'm paranoid because I want my children to know the truth
about pet keeping. Growing up to be a mindless yobbo who believes
everything that is seen on TV is no virtue.

Feeding live fish to Oscars and other fish is an entirely different issue.

Jacqui

"bassett" wrote in message
...
How many kids want to be like Elmo and live in the garbage bin.


Uhhh..... Elmo doesn't live in the garbage bin, does he? Maybe you need to
adjust the red/green contol on your TV??

(or is THAT another issue too?? *sigh*)

Chris

Ahh--but remember that to most kids "All television is educational" It is
important that
they see animals properly housed and in good condition. My son noticed that
Bob the
Builder changed the water in his aquarium "just like daddy" and swears that
Dorothy
has Ich.

It's not unreasonable to ask for a positive example for your kids (and/or
switch the
idiot box off).

And, not to be picky, but Elmo lives in an apartment with a talking
computer, magic window
shade, animated furniture and, yes, a very wretched looking goldfish. My
guess would
be they're on "Dorothy XXVII" by now.

-coelacanth
(Who always fed his fish when Mr. Rodgers fed his.)


"bassett" wrote in message
...
For ****s sake its a children's program, How many people do you know
that
has a live Elmo, living in a cage in the lounge room,, Does it really
matter
if the fish was alive or
pretend with a six inch grin, and green ears,, It,s a children's
program,,
How many kids want to be like Elmo and live in the garbage bin.

How bloody paranoid are you, Take a powder, Grow up, or switch the
tellie off..

What about all the fish keepers that feed Live goldfish, to there Oscars
and other predatory fish.. or guppies, or baby Brine Shrimp, or nice fat
wriggle worms.

Tell me do you get "Bob the Builder" you would really like that,

Love bassett








Chris + Jacqui wrote in message ...
It's very frustrating how children's programming perpetuates myths about
what animals like. I just talked my daughters through an episode of
Dora
the Explorer, a show I normally love. However in today's episode, Dora
is
helping a lion who wants to join the circus. So, we had a chat about
what
animals would actually prefer and how sometimes animal trainers are not
very
kind to lions & other animals.

I feel for Elmo's goldfish, but be glad you're able to help your
daughter
understand how fish really like to be kept. I also intend to write to
the
show's producers. The more people make themselves heard, the better the
chance of eliminating these stereotypes.

Jacqui



"Donald Kerns" wrote in message
...
Sigh,

I was watching Seasame Street with my daughter this morning. Elmo
takes
his pet goldfish "Dorthy" to the vet.

"Dorthy" is probably a 2.5" SL fish, being show in... oh... 1/2 - 2/3s
of a gallon of water in a bowl.

The vet pronounces "Dorthy" completely healthy and says that Elmo is
taking very good care of it.

[zoom in on fish]
"Dorthy" is hovering near the bottom, fins as tightly clenched as I've
ever seen. Even looks a bit de-colored.

That was one STRESSED fish.

Sigh.

-Donald
--

Well it proves one thing,, Your all well versed on the saga, or is it
enigma of Sesame Street.
What a great educational tool Sesame street is,,It,s an advanced form of
cartoon,,, And surprise,surprise its not real. Might be better to take the
kids to the local aquarium or Zoo. Here we go,, The Zoo,s a two hour drive
away, and we don,t have an aquarium.. So organize a field trip to the local
Pet Shop, or local vets..


bassett
The worlds not perfect, just look at me..


coelacanth wrote in message
Ahh--but remember that to most kids "All television is educational" It is
important that
they see animals properly housed and in good condition. My son noticed
that
Bob the
Builder changed the water in his aquarium "just like daddy" and swears
that
Dorothy
has Ich.

It's not unreasonable to ask for a positive example for your kids (and/or
switch the
idiot box off).

And, not to be picky, but Elmo lives in an apartment with a talking
computer, magic window
shade, animated furniture and, yes, a very wretched looking goldfish. My
guess would
be they're on "Dorothy XXVII" by now.

-coelacanth
(Who always fed his fish when Mr. Rodgers fed his.)


"bassett" wrote in message
...
For ****s sake its a children's program, How many people do you know
that
has a live Elmo, living in a cage in the lounge room,, Does it really
matter
if the fish was alive or
pretend with a six inch grin, and green ears,, It,s a children's
program,,
How many kids want to be like Elmo and live in the garbage bin.

How bloody paranoid are you, Take a powder, Grow up, or switch the
tellie off..

What about all the fish keepers that feed Live goldfish, to there
Oscars
and other predatory fish.. or guppies, or baby Brine Shrimp, or nice
fat
wriggle worms.

Tell me do you get "Bob the Builder" you would really like that,

Love bassett








Chris + Jacqui wrote in message ...
It's very frustrating how children's programming perpetuates myths
about
what animals like. I just talked my daughters through an episode of
Dora
the Explorer, a show I normally love. However in today's episode,
Dora
is
helping a lion who wants to join the circus. So, we had a chat about
what
animals would actually prefer and how sometimes animal trainers are
not
very
kind to lions & other animals.

I feel for Elmo's goldfish, but be glad you're able to help your
daughter
understand how fish really like to be kept. I also intend to write to
the
show's producers. The more people make themselves heard, the better
the
chance of eliminating these stereotypes.

Jacqui



"Donald Kerns" wrote in message
...
Sigh,

I was watching Seasame Street with my daughter this morning. Elmo
takes
his pet goldfish "Dorthy" to the vet.

"Dorthy" is probably a 2.5" SL fish, being show in... oh... 1/2 -
2/3s
of a gallon of water in a bowl.

The vet pronounces "Dorthy" completely healthy and says that Elmo is
taking very good care of it.

[zoom in on fish]
"Dorthy" is hovering near the bottom, fins as tightly clenched as
I've
ever seen. Even looks a bit de-colored.

That was one STRESSED fish.

Sigh.

-Donald
--

Well gee, thanks for the suggestion, bassett! Of course I just did the two
hour drive to
the Steinhart Aquarium in San Francisco last weekend and we went to the Zoo
last
month.Oh, and we were at local fish shop three days ago. But then you knew
all that
didn't you? I await further insights into pet care, parenting and the path
to total
enlightenment.

-coelacanth

"bassett" wrote in message
...
Well it proves one thing,, Your all well versed on the saga, or is it
enigma of Sesame Street.
What a great educational tool Sesame street is,,It,s an advanced form of
cartoon,,, And surprise,surprise its not real. Might be better to take
the
kids to the local aquarium or Zoo. Here we go,, The Zoo,s a two hour
drive
away, and we don,t have an aquarium.. So organize a field trip to the
local
Pet Shop, or local vets..


bassett
The worlds not perfect, just look at me..


coelacanth wrote in message
Ahh--but remember that to most kids "All television is educational" It
is
important that
they see animals properly housed and in good condition. My son noticed
that
Bob the
Builder changed the water in his aquarium "just like daddy" and swears
that
Dorothy
has Ich.

It's not unreasonable to ask for a positive example for your kids
(and/or
switch the
idiot box off).

And, not to be picky, but Elmo lives in an apartment with a talking
computer, magic window
shade, animated furniture and, yes, a very wretched looking goldfish.
My
guess would
be they're on "Dorothy XXVII" by now.

-coelacanth
(Who always fed his fish when Mr. Rodgers fed his.)


"bassett" wrote in message
...
For ****s sake its a children's program, How many people do you know
that
has a live Elmo, living in a cage in the lounge room,, Does it really
matter
if the fish was alive or
pretend with a six inch grin, and green ears,, It,s a children's
program,,
How many kids want to be like Elmo and live in the garbage bin.

How bloody paranoid are you, Take a powder, Grow up, or switch the
tellie off..

What about all the fish keepers that feed Live goldfish, to there
Oscars
and other predatory fish.. or guppies, or baby Brine Shrimp, or nice
fat
wriggle worms.

Tell me do you get "Bob the Builder" you would really like that,

Love bassett








Chris + Jacqui wrote in message ...
It's very frustrating how children's programming perpetuates myths
about
what animals like. I just talked my daughters through an episode of
Dora
the Explorer, a show I normally love. However in today's episode,
Dora
is
helping a lion who wants to join the circus. So, we had a chat
about
what
animals would actually prefer and how sometimes animal trainers are
not
very
kind to lions & other animals.

I feel for Elmo's goldfish, but be glad you're able to help your
daughter
understand how fish really like to be kept. I also intend to write
to
the
show's producers. The more people make themselves heard, the better
the
chance of eliminating these stereotypes.

Jacqui



"Donald Kerns" wrote in message
...
Sigh,

I was watching Seasame Street with my daughter this morning. Elmo
takes
his pet goldfish "Dorthy" to the vet.

"Dorthy" is probably a 2.5" SL fish, being show in... oh... 1/2 -
2/3s
of a gallon of water in a bowl.

The vet pronounces "Dorthy" completely healthy and says that Elmo
is
taking very good care of it.

[zoom in on fish]
"Dorthy" is hovering near the bottom, fins as tightly clenched as
I've
ever seen. Even looks a bit de-colored.

That was one STRESSED fish.

Sigh.

-Donald
--