Keep swimming

L.A. Times | Fish Flushers Learn Life Does Not Imitate 'Nemo'
Margie Valadez, a dispatcher for RotoRooter, is used to calls from upset customers whose watches, rings or even cell phones were accidentally flushed down the toilet. Lately, though, she's been taking calls from hysterical parents asking if plumbers can rescue fish.
"I hear kids crying in the background," she said. "But there's nothing we can do. They're gone."
...Sasha De Marino, manager of Aquarium Stock in Los Angeles, said she has received seven calls from parents whose children won't believe them about the real destination of flushed fish.
"I've had to explain to these young kids that flushing them doesn't take the fishes to where they would want to go," De Marino said.

The story goes on to explain exactly what really happens to a fish that goes down the drain. I wasn't expecting this level of detail. It ain't pretty.

But I told you all that to give you the punch line:

But Dan Mathews, vice president of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, agreed with the movie's message that "any fishbowl is just a hellish prison." He said he hoped that parents would "have the brains and the sense to tell their children fish are better left in their natural environment."

Count on the L.A. Times to be sure that this perspective isn't overlooked. After all, sales of clownfish are way up.

By the way--I loved Finding Nemo. Yes, I cried, darnit.