WALMART BETTA RESCUE

Summary

This is a first-person account of a neglected group of 36 male Betta (Siamese fighting) fish discovered at a Walmart store in Sunrise, Florida, in August 2002. With help from customers, we stabilized the situation, escalated to corporate, and documented the store’s responses over the following months.

What I Saw

When I reached the fish section, dozens of Bettas were kept in small plastic cups with very low water levels, leaving dorsal fins exposed. The water was foul with waste. With the help of three kids in the aisle, we found fish food and fresh water from the large tanks and cleaned every cup, opening air holes as we went.

I tried calling Sunrise Police (911) to file an animal-abuse complaint, but the dispatcher said they could do nothing and suggested contacting the company’s headquarters. The dispatcher ended the call. I then asked the store manager to call the police; he refused and told me to leave.

— Steve Rosen

Day-by-Day Log

8/21/2002

  • Corporate call (AM): Spoke with Jodie at Walmart headquarters. She took my report and said I should hear from the store manager, Brian Gillespie, within three days. If not, I should call back under report number (800) 940-8423.

  • Store call (6:20–6:45 PM): Spoke with Stan (assistant manager) at the Sunrise store. He claimed the Bettas were fine and in clean water. I explained that’s because customers and I had just changed the water.

    • He argued Bettas “live in puddles and breathe air only.” I clarified Bettas have gills, breathe water, and supplement with atmospheric air via a labyrinth organ (not a “cistern”).

    • He said an employee named Paul is responsible for the fish; he acknowledged the name.

    • I stated my intention to monitor conditions and inform animal-welfare groups if needed.

8/22/2002

  • Corporate follow-up: Spoke with Brent at headquarters. Reported that only an assistant manager had called, that he minimized the situation, and that I had four witnesses who helped change the water. Brent said a district manager would contact me within a day or two.

8/26/2002 – 4:30 PM

  • District office call: Magda Cardona (District 43) returned my call. She said the store decided to stop keeping Bettas in breeder cups on the shelf and instead place them in main tanks using separators.

8/30/2002

  • Store visit (11:30 PM): Found 9 female Bettas in individual receptacles inside the main tanks, but 30+ males were gone from the sales floor.

  • Corporate call (5:00 PM): Spoke with Tara; she said District Manager Carlos would call.

  • District call (within 15 minutes): Spoke again with Magda. Reported that all male Bettas had disappeared and supplies now occupied their spot. I asked for documentation if the fish were actually sold, since I feared they were simply discarded.

9/18/2002

  • Corporate follow-up: Spoke with Mel. Explained I’d waited weeks with no call back. Reiterated that I only wanted to know what happened to ~30 male Bettas from 8/21.

9/23/2002

  • District response: Magda relayed Carlos Lopez’s update: the store “sold 29 Bettas that week,” with an average of 18 per week. Carlos said he advised nearby stores to review animal-handling practices.

12/2/2002

  • Store visit: Bettas were back in breeder cups, not lined up on shelves but piled in a white tub (3–4 ft wide, 8–10 in high), stacked on top of one another.

12/7/2002

  • Store visit: The pile was smaller, but many cups had discolored water, and I observed multiple dead fish in other tanks and one dead Betta in a clear container within a main tank. Waste had accumulated at the bottom of those containers and the water had started to turn brownish—evidence of poor filtration and maintenance.

Why This Matters

Bettas are hardy, but not disposable. Even when temporarily housed in cups, they require:

  • Adequate water volume and quality (regular changes, dechlorinated water).

  • Stable temperature and reliable aeration/ventilation.

  • Clean, humane presentation that avoids piling and overcrowding.

Outcome & Next Steps

  • Corporate and district management acknowledged concerns and said changes were made, though conditions regressed months later.

  • I will periodically check the location and continue reporting issues to corporate and animal-welfare organizations.

  • If you witness similar conditions, document with dates, photos, and witnesses, then:

    1. Politely stabilize urgent welfare issues (fresh, conditioned water, safe handling).

    2. Alert a manager and request immediate remediation.

    3. Escalate to corporate/district and local animal-control authorities per local law.

    4. Share findings with reputable animal-welfare groups.