MORE THAN 1,000 DEMAND TOY STORES STOP SELLING FROGS

Press Release 8/25/11----Campaign on Change.org calls on Learning Express toy stores to stop selling live frogs as toys, citing salmonella, environmental and animal welfare concerns.



WASHINGTON, DC - More than 1,000 people across the U.S. have joined a campaign on Change.org calling on Learning Express, the largest educational toy retailer in the U.S., to stop selling live frog "EcoAquariums."



Laura Goldman, an animal welfare blogger, launched the campaign on Change.org after learning that live African dwarf frogs were being sold in 4-square-inch plastic cubes.



"Not only was I surprised and appalled that living frogs were being sold as toys, but after reading about how the frogs were manhandled and abused by a distributor, I couldn't understand why a so-called 'educational' toy seller would carry and, in an email to Change.org members, actually defend these products," said petition creator Laura Goldman. "Other retail chains have already done the right thing by stopping the sale of these toys. Learning Express needs to learn to be equally compassionate about animals."



Learning Express has come under fire in the past for selling the EcoAquariums, which retail giant Target, Brookstone and several toy store chains have taken off their shelves. As families prepare for Back-to-School, Goldman hopes Learning Express will heed the concerns of activists, as well as parents, who are concerned about recent warnings linking African dwarf frogs to salmonella.



In July, the California Department of Public Health issued a warning that "certain pet aquatic frogs may carry bacteria that cause illness in people and should be withheld from sale to the public." On July 20, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned of an outbreak of salmonella caused by African dwarf frogs.



"The concerns around these EcoAquariums range from preventing the spread of salmonella to teaching children compassion to protecting the environment," said Change.org Interim Director of Organizing, Stephanie Feldstein. "It has been remarkable to watch as this issue has attracted more than 1,000 people from across the country to take action on Change.org."



Live signature totals from the campaign:

http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-learning-express-that-frogs-are-not-toys



Journalists interested in contacting Learning Express should try:

Sharon DiMinico, Founder and CEO, Learning Express, Inc.

info@learningexpress.com

(978) 889-1000



Laura Goldman, Petition Author, lgoldman@change.org

Stephanie Feldstein, Director of Organizing (interim), Change.org (734) 395-0770, sfeldstein@change.org