You won't believe what this Aussie man did ‘for Donald Trump’: Shocking act leaves shoppers stunned
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It’s not every day you hear about a trip to the pet store ending in police charges, public outrage, and a national conversation about animal welfare.
But that’s exactly what happened at a Petbarn in Castle Hill, northwest of Sydney, when a young man’s bizarre and cruel stunt left staff and shoppers reeling—and the rest of us shaking our heads in disbelief.
Let’s set the scene: It was just after midday on a typical Sunday when a 20-year-old man strolled into Petbarn. But instead of picking up a bag of dog food or a new toy for his cat, he did something that’s left many Australians gobsmacked.
According to police and multiple witnesses, the man reached into a tank, plucked out a live goldfish, and—shockingly—swallowed it whole.
If that wasn’t enough, he reportedly declared, 'This is for Donald Trump!' before committing the act, all while livestreaming the incident on a gaming platform.
Witnesses described hearing a 'crunch noise' as the goldfish disappeared, and staff were understandably horrified.
In a strange twist, the man later returned to the store and paid the $8 for the goldfish, but the damage—both to the poor fish and to the staff’s peace of mind—was already done.
NSW Police were called to the scene and, after investigating, charged the man with committing an act of animal cruelty and behaving in an offensive manner.
He’s now due to appear at Parramatta Local Court on August 20, facing potential fines of up to $44,000 and/or a year in prison.
And because NSW is the only state in Australia with specific laws against the production and distribution of so-called 'animal crush' videos, he could even face up to five years behind bars if the court finds the livestream falls under that category.
Related story: This disturbing sight causes massive uproar among animal advocates: 'It's just disgusting'
Petbarn, for their part, have condemned the act in the strongest possible terms. 'Our team members were understandably very shaken by what they witnessed and have been offered counselling and support,' a spokesperson said.
'At Petbarn, the welfare of animals is our number one priority. Any act of cruelty towards animals is unacceptable and completely contrary to the values we uphold as a team and organisation committed to responsible pet care and wellbeing.'
Animal welfare advocates have also weighed in, with NSW Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst calling the act 'extreme cruelty.' She pointed out that fish are sentient beings capable of feeling pain and fear, and that the goldfish 'would have suffered terribly.'
Hurst didn’t mince words about the motivation behind the act, either. 'What kind of pathetic individual goes to such extreme lengths just to try and get some attention on social media? He should be given a lifetime ban immediately on all social media platforms for promoting acts of animal cruelty.'
Australia has some of the strictest animal welfare laws in the world, and for good reason. Acts like this aren’t just 'pranks'—they’re serious offences that can result in hefty fines and even jail time.
In NSW, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act makes it clear that all animals, including fish, are protected from unnecessary harm. The state’s unique laws against animal crush videos are designed to prevent the spread of content that glorifies or profits from animal suffering.
If you ever witness an act of animal cruelty, whether in person or online, it’s important to report it to the relevant authorities. In NSW, you can contact the RSPCA or local police.
Most states have hotlines or online forms for reporting animal welfare concerns. And if you see distressing content online, report it to the platform immediately.
Read next: Pigeon killer fined $48k, one of WA's largest animal cruelty fines
Have you ever witnessed or heard about similar acts of cruelty? How do you feel about the role of social media in encouraging this kind of behaviour? And what do you think should be done to prevent it in the future? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
But that’s exactly what happened at a Petbarn in Castle Hill, northwest of Sydney, when a young man’s bizarre and cruel stunt left staff and shoppers reeling—and the rest of us shaking our heads in disbelief.
Let’s set the scene: It was just after midday on a typical Sunday when a 20-year-old man strolled into Petbarn. But instead of picking up a bag of dog food or a new toy for his cat, he did something that’s left many Australians gobsmacked.
According to police and multiple witnesses, the man reached into a tank, plucked out a live goldfish, and—shockingly—swallowed it whole.
If that wasn’t enough, he reportedly declared, 'This is for Donald Trump!' before committing the act, all while livestreaming the incident on a gaming platform.
Witnesses described hearing a 'crunch noise' as the goldfish disappeared, and staff were understandably horrified.
A 20-year-old man was charged with animal cruelty after allegedly swallowing a live goldfish at a Petbarn in Castle Hill, reportedly shouting 'this is for Donald Trump' and livestreaming the act on a gaming platform. Image source: SLNC / Unsplash.
In a strange twist, the man later returned to the store and paid the $8 for the goldfish, but the damage—both to the poor fish and to the staff’s peace of mind—was already done.
NSW Police were called to the scene and, after investigating, charged the man with committing an act of animal cruelty and behaving in an offensive manner.
He’s now due to appear at Parramatta Local Court on August 20, facing potential fines of up to $44,000 and/or a year in prison.
And because NSW is the only state in Australia with specific laws against the production and distribution of so-called 'animal crush' videos, he could even face up to five years behind bars if the court finds the livestream falls under that category.
Related story: This disturbing sight causes massive uproar among animal advocates: 'It's just disgusting'
Petbarn, for their part, have condemned the act in the strongest possible terms. 'Our team members were understandably very shaken by what they witnessed and have been offered counselling and support,' a spokesperson said.
'At Petbarn, the welfare of animals is our number one priority. Any act of cruelty towards animals is unacceptable and completely contrary to the values we uphold as a team and organisation committed to responsible pet care and wellbeing.'
Animal welfare advocates have also weighed in, with NSW Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst calling the act 'extreme cruelty.' She pointed out that fish are sentient beings capable of feeling pain and fear, and that the goldfish 'would have suffered terribly.'
Hurst didn’t mince words about the motivation behind the act, either. 'What kind of pathetic individual goes to such extreme lengths just to try and get some attention on social media? He should be given a lifetime ban immediately on all social media platforms for promoting acts of animal cruelty.'
Australia has some of the strictest animal welfare laws in the world, and for good reason. Acts like this aren’t just 'pranks'—they’re serious offences that can result in hefty fines and even jail time.
In NSW, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act makes it clear that all animals, including fish, are protected from unnecessary harm. The state’s unique laws against animal crush videos are designed to prevent the spread of content that glorifies or profits from animal suffering.
The man returned to the store after the incident to pay for the goldfish, but workers were left shaken, with Petbarn offering counselling and reaffirming their commitment to animal welfare. Image source: History in HD / Unsplash.
If you ever witness an act of animal cruelty, whether in person or online, it’s important to report it to the relevant authorities. In NSW, you can contact the RSPCA or local police.
Most states have hotlines or online forms for reporting animal welfare concerns. And if you see distressing content online, report it to the platform immediately.
Read next: Pigeon killer fined $48k, one of WA's largest animal cruelty fines
Have you ever witnessed or heard about similar acts of cruelty? How do you feel about the role of social media in encouraging this kind of behaviour? And what do you think should be done to prevent it in the future? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
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