The controversy swells in Saint-Lô (Manche). In question: goldfish offered as prizes at the carnival. However, this practice is illegal. The PAZ association has just alerted the town hall and the State.
“It’s time to put an end to this vision considering animals as toys“, s’alarme PEACE (Paris Animals Zoopolis). Whereas the funfair of Saint-Lô opened its doors on January 21, 2023the animal protection association indicates that it has been “alerted by shocked residents who [lui] sent photos“.
As the picture shows, this stand”offers goldfish as prizes“. “The aquariums are totally misfits : tiny, without aerators and without covers“, says the association which denounces this practice.
“Our society must teach children that animals are sentient beings and not objects of entertainment.”
Amandine Sanvisens, co-founder of PAZ
It also indicates that although “the presence of goldfish at fairgrounds / village festivals tends to disappear, it keep persisting“.
However, this practice is actually illegal. Article L214-7 of the Rural Code of Maritime Fishing specifies that “la cessionfree of charge or against payment, dogs and cats and other pets are prohibited in fairsmarkets, flea markets, fairs, exhibitions or any other events not specifically devoted to animals“.
Persons who do not respect this law risk fine provided for 4th class fines (that is 750 euros at most).
This is why the PAZ association wrote a letter to Emmanuelle Lejeune, mayor of Saint-Lô, and to the DDPP (Departmental Directorate for the Protection of Populations) to ask them “to react to this violation of the law“, says Amandine Sanvisens.
Solicited, the city of Saint-Lô has not yet responded to our requests.
In this message sent to the town hall on January 31, 2023, Audrey Brisseaud, in charge of PAZ campaigns, asks him “to remind the municipal or national police of the strict application of these texts to those responsible for this stand […]by requiring them to remove goldfish from proposed lots“. She also asks that the showmen in question are verbalized.
According to our colleagues from Ouest France, goldfish from the Saint-Lô fairground stand have been removed et thrown into the Vire.
The PAZ association explains that it has alerted State services since 2021 of a “twenty cases“in all of France, without response or”the DDPP tells us that it cannot carry out a check“.
In October 2022, for example, PAZ activists challenged the state since goldfish were also used as lots at the Saint-Romain fair in Rouen.
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Nevertheless, the Ministry of Agriculture says it is hunting down this illegal practice. “The control services intervene whenever necessaryto verify the proper application of this regulatory provision.“
