Having read this thread (http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=157032) and hundreds of others like it over the years, I asked myself what we - as the MFK community - could do to impact Wal-Mart's deplorable practices in stocking and selling fish and other aquatic animals in its stores.
Clearly starting another thread about another tragic situation isn't going to solve the problem. Nor will acting helpless.
But sending Lee Scott, the CEO of Wal-Mart, a letter representing the commitment of hundreds or thousands of MFK members to NOT BUY ANYTHING from Wal-Mart or Sam's Club...until Wal-Mart either stops stocking fish and other live aquatic animals or publicly commits to responsible practices/staffing its pet department with "trained" people.
Would you commit to signing the attached?
Lee Scott, CEO
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc
702 SW 8th. St.
Bentonville, AR 72716
Dear Mr. Scott,
I am sending this letter to you on behalf of the many members of MonsterFishKeepers.com who have signed a petition in protest of Wal-Mart’s deplorable practices in stocking and maintaining live fish and other aquarium animals in its stores.
MonsterFishKeepers.com represents a community of over 44,000 aquarists around the world who take pride in properly maintaining aquatic animals in captivity. Your stores frequently fall well short of either properly caring for these animals or being responsible in selling them.
Recognizing that aquatic animals represent a small portion of your organization’s revenue, the members who signed this petition have committed to not purchase ANYTHING at a Wal-Mart or Sam’s Club store until you either:
(1) Discontinue all sales of live fish and other aquatic animals at your stores or
(2) Publicly commit to responsible sales and care of aquatic animals and ensure that each store that sells live aquatic animals has someone trained in proper care of aquatic animals on duty in the pet department during all store hours.
For reference, here is the publicly available thread listing all members who have committed to this petition: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=184151 .
Thank you and look forward to your response at this address: <insert email address>.
Respectfully,
The Members of MonsterFishKeepers.com
Clearly starting another thread about another tragic situation isn't going to solve the problem. Nor will acting helpless.
But sending Lee Scott, the CEO of Wal-Mart, a letter representing the commitment of hundreds or thousands of MFK members to NOT BUY ANYTHING from Wal-Mart or Sam's Club...until Wal-Mart either stops stocking fish and other live aquatic animals or publicly commits to responsible practices/staffing its pet department with "trained" people.
Would you commit to signing the attached?
Lee Scott, CEO
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc
702 SW 8th. St.
Bentonville, AR 72716
Dear Mr. Scott,
I am sending this letter to you on behalf of the many members of MonsterFishKeepers.com who have signed a petition in protest of Wal-Mart’s deplorable practices in stocking and maintaining live fish and other aquarium animals in its stores.
MonsterFishKeepers.com represents a community of over 44,000 aquarists around the world who take pride in properly maintaining aquatic animals in captivity. Your stores frequently fall well short of either properly caring for these animals or being responsible in selling them.
Recognizing that aquatic animals represent a small portion of your organization’s revenue, the members who signed this petition have committed to not purchase ANYTHING at a Wal-Mart or Sam’s Club store until you either:
(1) Discontinue all sales of live fish and other aquatic animals at your stores or
(2) Publicly commit to responsible sales and care of aquatic animals and ensure that each store that sells live aquatic animals has someone trained in proper care of aquatic animals on duty in the pet department during all store hours.
For reference, here is the publicly available thread listing all members who have committed to this petition: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=184151 .
Thank you and look forward to your response at this address: <insert email address>.
Respectfully,
The Members of MonsterFishKeepers.com