emilyheart:

got a call from a customer asking how much our betta fish were. i told her that depended on the type she wanted, and she said, “oh just your cheapest ones, they’re going to be in vases as table decorations for a party.” 

i had been pleasant up until this point but my heart dropped and i couldn’t bring myself to mask my disgust. i said, “i’m sorry, but we actually don’t sell animals as anything other than pets. they’re not prizes, or decorations, or novelty items. sorry.” and she was quiet for a few seconds and then went, “…well we’re going to feed them” in that indignant, self-righteous tone customers get. i told her that didn’t matter; that simply feeding them wasn’t enough (i’m sure her idea of “feeding” them was putting some plants in the vase, happy to believe that they would “eat the roots”). i told her that no fish belongs in a vase or a bowl, and that they need a heater. she got angry. she said, “i have bettas at home, and they’re in a bowl. they’re fine.” i wanted to tell her no, they’re not fine, you are killing your “pets” slowly and painfully. but all i could manage was, “i’m sorry, but that’s not actually the proper set up, and we won’t sell living things as party decorations.” she said “ok, thank you” in a voice that was too pleasant and told me she would simply go to a different store to buy her doomed fish. she hung up and i spent the rest of my shift with tears in my eyes.

i wanted to ask her if she planned on interrupting her own party to change the water in the vases. i wanted to ask her what she planned on doing afterwards, with all these fish that she was unequipped to care for. i’m guessing they were going to be party favors for her guests–was she going to send them all home with food and water conditioner too? was she going to spend a few minutes with each guest to talk to them about the proper care for the living creature they were now tasked with keeping alive? was she sure that everyone who ended up with a betta actually wanted one, and was committed to its care? could afford to buy the supplies she didn’t provide? wouldn’t just leave it on a bookshelf and forget about it? wouldn’t come home in a month, a week, a few days, and find it cold and belly-up? 

they’re small, but that doesn’t mean they don’t matter. little creatures are just as important as the big ones.