A Queens polis pushing new legislation to ban giving away live fish as novelty prizes at NYC-based fairs, carnivals and other festivals.
Councilwoman Vickie Paladino’s bill especially targets the longtime carnival practice of awarding goldfish to winners of Ping-Pong toss and similar carnival games. The fish are typically handed out in small plastic bags.
Many animal-rights groups — including the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals — vehemently oppose the giveaways because they believe it subjects fish to extreme stress, shock and oxygen starvation and frequently results in death even before the winner gets their prize home.
Event organizers violating the proposed measure, which Paladino (R-Queens) introduced on June 30, would face a $100 fine for a first offense and up to $2,000 for repeat offenses.
Paladino decided to make a splash on the topic after a group of twisted teen boys attending a carnival in late May hosted by St. Luke School in Whitestone went out of their way to win goldfish just to torture them, said the pol’s chief political strategist and son, Thomas Paladino Jr.
“It was ugly,” recalled the younger Paladino, claiming the kids flung and “stomped on” the fish, and pulled their fins to make some teenage girls squeamish.
“While this may seem like a small issue in a city facing many challenges, this incident made clear that live animals should not be treated as novelties or prizes,” the councilwoman wrote June 1 on Instagram.
“They deserve humane treatment and responsible care. No animal should be subjected to cruelty.”
St. Luke School did not return messages.
Councilman Frank Morano, a Staten Island Republican, said he’s backing the bill because it’s about protecting animals, not spoiling the fun.
“This is a small but sensible animal-welfare reform that brings a little more humanity to how we do things in New York City,” he said.
“If you want to give out prizes at fairs or street festivals, there are plenty of better options: stuffed animals, gift cards, toys, or even tickets and vouchers.
“Anything but a living animal.”
If the bill is approved, NYC would join a growing list of jurisdictions that already ban the practice, including the states of Connecticut and Iowa and the city of Berkeley, Calif.
New York State prohibits giving away most live animals as prizes — except fish and purebred livestock such as cattle and horses.
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