A Tribute to a Fish
Remembering a Friend
Vendetta left our lives almost as quickly as he entered them.
My partner, Amanda, and I found him trapped in a tiny box at a pet store when we made the impromptu decision to rescue him. And now, eight months later, we find ourselves without him, having had to euthanize him after a bout of severe illness.
Soon after we brought him home from the store, we knew that things weren’t completely all right. There were signs of disease and infection. However, Vendetta’s powerful spirit helped him overcome a weak immune system that was a result of neglect and abuse in his pre-liberation life. His will to live proved stronger than the evils of the pet trade industry. He began to grow bigger and brighter. We discovered colors we had never seen on him before. However, he was never completely okay.
A week ago, we discovered that he had dropsy, from which he showed no signs of recovery. We decided to not prolong his suffering and euthanize him instead.
If our society was not as speciesist as it is, we could have been able to save Vendetta. We simply did not have access to the technology or tools required to treat him. To most humans, he was just a fish, a disposable product to be bought and sold. But does it really matter which species he belonged to? To me, what mattered was his delight at being freed, his excitement during his mealtime, his fascination with his snail friends, and his love for his human guardians.
What mattered was who he was, not what he was.
As we mourn Vendetta’s death, we also celebrate his life. He was our child and our friend. His story will continue to inspire positive change. His passion for freedom and zest for life will always remain a call for animal liberation — a call that I promise to amplify as much as I can. I will continue to scream his voice until there is no need to.
What kind of a pathetic world it is where people like Vendetta are sold as products on supermarket shelves. And what an amazing world it could be where every sentient individual, human or fish, is given the respect they deserve.
Species Revolution aims to normalize anti-speciesism as a stance against injustice. To support our work, like our Facebook page and subscribe to our newsletter. Join us in the fight for animal liberation.
