Problems regarding pet shops

One problem with pet shops is the way that they acquire the animals. The reason why many people choose pet shops is because of the wide variety of pets, but have you ever stopped for a minute and thought: “Why do they have all these popular breeds?”. 

Many ‘breeders’ breed animals (and most of the time, related animals) to produce unique species that people are more likely to buy. These animals are forced to breed in awful conditions such as confinement, poor hygiene, inadequate nutrition, lack of social interaction etc. This impacts the health of these poor animals as it can create breathing difficulties, skin allergies, heart, brain or kidney problems, etc. That is the harsh reality of the system behind these pet shops. 

However, these cruel breeders aren’t the only problem - it’s also us. We need to stop treating animals as displays, paying enormous amounts of money for a specific breed, while we ignore abandoned animals; who wait for ages until they can get a proper home instead of a crammed, caged space lacking necessities. We need to stop objectifying these poor animals. Many people forget that these animals also have feelings and that they are not commodities for the public.

The LAP (Lifelong Animal Protection) proposes to:

Adopt: Adopt, don't shop!

Foster: Keep a furry friend with you and give them a second chance.

Volunteer: Organise events, walk dogs, foster newborns, etc..

Conclusion
Animals have feelings too, so before you adopt one, make sure that your house or apartment is big enough and has all the required necessities, as well as considering whether you have the money and resources to take care of them on a long term basis (e.g. money for vet visits). If you were a dog in a cramped apartment, how would you feel? Don’t buy the animals as it might be expensive and you don’t know where they came from, so they may also have serious problems with their health. Next time you see a pet shelter, stop to think about what these animals are feeling and consider adopting them instead of buying them.

What do we mean by ' dolphins in captivity ' ?

First of all, dolphins are held in captivity all around the world, but the big question is why. There are various reasons for this, some of which may be considered good, while others are not. One of the main reasons dolphins are kept in captivity is for entertainment purposes, such as in marine parks and aquariums which feature dolphin shows and performances. Another reason is the rescue of injured or stranded dolphins. While some marine parks and aquariums take dolphins captive for entertainment, some participate in rescue efforts for dolphins that are injured or stranded. They treat them and in some cases release the dolphins back into the wild when they are ready.

How can we fight this issue?

Advocacy/Awareness:

We can advocate for laws or legislations that help dolphins in captivity and protect their welfare. Unfortunately in Hong Kong specific laws addressing dolphins in captivity are limited, there are only frameworks of legislations and initiatives.  You can also support initiatives that aim to relocate dolphins to sanctuaries instead of remaining in captivity. In sanctuaries, they live in a more natural environment and don’t have to perform or interact with humans.

Ethical Alternatives:

Ecotourism is a better alternative to dolphin performances. Not only are most ecotourism groups approved by conservational departments, they also provide funding for these conservation projects and for the protection of different species. Ecotourism doesn’t harm the local environment and animals or keep dolphins in captivity.

Donations:

Donations to NGOs or conservation projects that work toward rescue, rehabilitation, and advocacy of dolphins in captivity are important too. As it helps them expand and overcome these issues.

Conclusion

All in all, we all play a role in conserving and taking care of these animals as we all live in the same world. We can all try to help these poor dolphins by doing these numerous things to fight against the unethical treatment of these creatures. Together we can achieve a biodiverse world that allows all animals to thrive!

Fish in Live Transport

Introduction

Fish in live transport refers to the movement of fish by enclosing them in a tank supplied with water and oxygen, and carting them off to their respective locations via boat, truck, van or specialized containers. 

Across the world, transport of live fish is commonly practiced due to the following reasons:

• After harvest,

• To take fish to short-term live storage,

• To stock fish farms for breeding,

• To restock depleting populations,

• To bring live fish to commercial areas (eg. pet stores, wet markets, research labs).

Solutions to improve live fish transport practices 

While transparency surrounding live fish transport procedures are limited, we can try to support non-profit organizations who promote safe live fish transport and not buy from companies who do not transport their fish safely. 

For solutions to directly help fish in live transport, there are several strategies that may be implemented - particularly by the government to ensure these are followed. First, creating standardised regulations that all fish transport companies must meet. There must be adequate space, optimal water and oxygen quality, as well as temperature control. All workers should be informed of the best way to handle the fish during loading and unloading. Furthermore, mechanization may be an important aspect. This reduces the number of human errors and allows real-time monitoring to track physical conditions for the fish.

Conclusion

In summary, fish in live transport is a highly relevant and critical issue in our society. There are significant implications for the welfare of fish and even economic sustainability. By acknowledging the challenges posed by this practice and taking effective measures to combat them, we can work together to reduce mortality rates of fish.