Dear Walmart,

I have shopped in Walmart many times. However, one incident made me rethink the values of your store. I want to tell you about this incident so that it will raise awareness about an epidemic that is not only affecting my local Walmart, but hundreds of other Walmart stores around the country.

This incident began on a normal day. I went into my local Walmart with my parents in Kentucky, though I will not say which one. We walked over to look at the dog toys, which were located in the same aisle across from the fish, and my parents walked over to that aisle with me.

My dad loves fish, and across from the dog toys were containers of fish. He glanced over at the fish, and he gasped. He pointed to the fish and said, “These betas are all dead!”

I asked him, “What?!” (Because, surely, there was no way, right?)

My dad loved to learn about wildlife and fish, and he knew a lot about them, including the male betas that were on the shelf to be sold. He repeated himself with a shocked tone, “These male betas are all dead!”

I looked closer at them to make sure, and I suggested, “Surely, they’re just sleeping?”

He shook his head. “No, betas don’t sleep like that.” Sure enough, yes, every male beta for sale on that shelf in Walmart was dead.

The male betas, like the ones shown in the pictures below, were all dead because they were denied proper food and care. One of your stores was selling these fish, but rather than taking care of them to make sure that they would stay alive and healthy, it neglected them. Your store left the betas to stay in their tiny spaces right beside each other, which can cause them to go insane due to their intense territorial nature. Some were left with little water, while others were left in contaminated water. They were without food and without proper care, which is animal abuse and neglect.

I understand that you have a lot of things that you need to manage, like customer service and stocking and everything, but these are living, breathing creatures. These fish were taken from their homes and were basically left to die because you were unable to take proper care of them. If you want to sell living creatures, take care of them. You are morally obligated, as all companies are, to take proper care of the creatures you are selling. Don’t neglect and abuse these creatures simply to make a quick profit.

Sincerely,

A Concerned Customer