PETA vs Bar Owner Over Lobster Game

Bar owner refuses to give up lobsters
PETA says lobster's tank is unethical

July 3, 2008

CENTENNIAL (KWGN) — A local bar owner and his lobsters are caught in the middle of a boiling debate.

The owner of JD's Bait Shop is being asked by PETA to remove his lobster tank because they feel it's unethical and abusive. But he says a majority of his customers don't want it to go. The tank is actually a game where people can pay to catch a lobster with a claw and if they do, they get a free lobster dinner.

A customer made a complaint about the game several weeks ago. "I wanted to take it out just for this lady because it offended her and I don't want to offend anyone, but when PETA got involved, I said I'm going to leave the machine here until they get off my back," said owner Dennis McCann.

PETA contacted McCann about the machine. They sent a letter, asking him to get rid of it but he said once they started calling his home to bully him, he had enough. "I don't have nothing against them, I just don't want them telling me how to run my business," says McCann.

PETA responded by saying, "incarcerating lobsters in filthy tanks inside of a boisterous bar and making an abusive game out of their capture and then finally ending it all by boiling them alive is as reprehensible as abusing cats, dogs or any other animal."

McCann says he has a vending license for the machine and isn't breaking any laws. An inspector even looked at the tank and found nothing wrong with it. Several customers say they don't understand the controversy over the crustaceans and if they don't stay, they're not coming back.

"I had all these phone calls saying don't take it out, don't bow down to these people," said McCann. PETA says several other establishments in Denver have similar tanks and they too will be contacted to remove them.

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PETA, get over yourself. The lobsters are there to be EATEN. Eat all the grass you want, but leave us MEAT eaters the HELL alone!