An Italian town has banned residents from keeping goldfish in bowls.
The Monza council - which also prohibits the use of small animals as competition at fairs - believe the animals ''suffer'' in the bowls because they have a ''distorted view of reality''.
''suffer'' in the bowls because they have a ''distorted view of reality''
Giampietro Mosca, a council official, said: ''A fish kept in a bowl has a distorted view of reality ... and suffers because of this.
''Also, this type of receptacle generally doesn't have a filter and doesn't allow for good oxygenation of the water, unlike in rectangular aquariums.
''The ruling is intended to transmit a message about the correct treatment of domestic animals.
''In Monza, we have no less than 15,000 dogs for 120,000 inhabitants.''
