npr:It’s an all-too-familiar practice. Families go to see movies that feature fun, friendly animal
npr: It’s an all-too-familiar practice. Families go to see movies that feature fun, friendly animals on the big screen. Then they rush out to buy one of the very same type of animal, to keep as a pet. Before long, the cute new member of the family becomes too much trouble, or isn’t cared for properly; the animal dies, is abandoned, or is surrendered to overwhelmed rescue groups. It happened when the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies came out; at one point, 90 percent of purchased turtles were estimated to have died in the United States alone. It happened in the wake of Beverly Hills Chihuahua — and the tiny dogs paid the price when they were abandoned at high rates. It happened with Finding Nemo, when children clamored for clownfish. Some children, seeking to give their new pets freedom through the same route used by Nemo in the film, flushed their fish down the toilet. Now, with two weeks to go until the very-hyped opening of Finding Dory — the Disney/Pixar sequel to Nemo — concern mounts for what may happen with the Pacific blue tang. Please, Let’s Not Find Dory Photo: Norbert Wu/Getty Images/Minden Pictures -- source link