Outdoors Citi Area, the house of the New York Mets, followers encounter a well-known sight: a canine dressed head to paw in staff gear, sitting completely nonetheless on a small mat. The animal wears sun shades, a cowboy hat, generally even a toy pipe clamped in her mouth. Her identify is Sushi, a four-year-old pit bull, and he or she has develop into a controversial fixture outdoors the ballpark.
The canine’s proprietor, often known as Norberto Fernandez — and at occasions introducing himself as “Charlie the Coach” — positions Sushi within the path of hundreds of followers arriving by subway. Those that need to shake her paw or snap a photograph are prompted by an indication to make a cost, full with Money App, PayPal, and Venmo particulars. The message is blunt: “Don’t neglect I don’t like low-cost folks” The Athletic reviews.
Lengthy Hours, Little Reduction
Observers and animal welfare advocates say the setup hides grim circumstances. Sushi usually stays immobile for hours, even in excessive warmth, with out constant entry to meals or water. Witnesses allege she is skilled to suppress regular behaviors, like panting, which specialists say is a organic necessity for canines in sizzling climate. Christina Shusterich, a New York Metropolis canine habits specialist, informed The Athletic she believes such unnatural stillness could also be enforced by way of the usage of a shock collar — a declare Fernandez denies.
Previous and current critics, together with the founding father of Mets fan group The 7 Line Military, have identified that Fernandez’s canines, from his earlier pit bull Espresso to Sushi right this moment, endure lengthy, static shifts in all climate circumstances for money suggestions. Darren Meenan of The 7 Line described it as “animal cruelty performed out proper in entrance of our noses.”
Years of Complaints, Few Penalties
The complaints are usually not new. Way back to 2011, activists like Belkis Cardona-Rivera began Fb campaigns resembling “Cease Abusing Espresso,” alleging shock collar use and harmful publicity to the weather. That yr, the ASPCA investigated however mentioned it discovered no proof of abuse requiring elimination of the canine, regardless of acknowledging the dangers of extended solar publicity, CBS New York reviews.
Within the years since, the canines have remained a fixture, and the strategies seem largely unchanged. Sushi continues to be dressed and posed for images, nonetheless anticipated to carry out in alternate for cash. Whereas the Mets have now issued statements distancing themselves from Fernandez, the staff maintains it has no authority to take away him, as he operates on metropolis property.
Photograph: Fb / StopAbusingCoffee
The canines put on costumes, sun shades, and props for lengthy hours.
Public Outcry and Protest
Social media has amplified the backlash. TikTok movies explaining the scenario have drawn a whole lot of hundreds of views, whereas Reddit threads have spurred organized protests. One protestor, Mike Amory, wearing a canine costume outdoors the stadium, holding an indication urging donations to the ASPCA as a substitute of to Fernandez. Because the r/NewYorkMets subreddit particulars, over a number of video games, his efforts raised a whole lot of {dollars} for animal welfare teams.
Animal advocacy platforms like Power Change have known as for the New York Metropolis Division of Client Affairs to analyze, citing issues that the spectacle prioritizes revenue over animal welfare. They be aware Sushi’s extended immobility, warmth publicity, and restricted entry to water as indicators of misery, not leisure.
A Controversy With out Decision
Regardless of repeated requires intervention, Fernandez stays in his standard spot earlier than and after video games. The ASPCA has reiterated its opposition to utilizing animals in leisure the place their wants are usually not met, however says it has discovered “no proof of abuse or neglect” adequate for elimination. The New York Police Division has not taken motion.
For a lot of followers, the show stays a part of the Citi Area expertise. For others, it’s an exploitation hidden in plain sight — a residing being became a prop. Critics argue that the absence of authorized repercussions doesn’t erase the moral questions on subjecting a canine to such circumstances for human amusement and money suggestions.
Till public stress turns into enforceable change, Sushi’s actuality outdoors Citi Area will probably stay the identical: infinite hours in costume, unmoving beneath the gaze of strangers, as cash modifications palms close by.
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