Living animals keychain/lucky charm in China

The latest craze sweeping China is selling animals sealed in airtight plastic containers designed as key chains. The key chains are sold are good luck charms.

The key chain charms are filled with colored water – usually one turtle, one or two goldfish, or one salamander are sealed inside. The street vendors report that the water contains special nutrients that can keep the pets alive for months. The key chain charms are extremely popular and animal rights groups are working to make the sell of live pets in this manner illegal. For the price of 10 Yuan or U.S. $1.50 you can own your own live pet key chain charm.

China has a "Wild Animal Protection” law; however there is no law to protect any pets or domestic animals. These live pet key chain charms are sure death to the pet inside the packets. There is no oxygen, food and often little to no room to move around. These key chain charms are death chambers, and in truth the pets usually die within a few days if not hours. There have been some reports of some buyers opening the key chain charm packets and releasing the pets held captive.