“George” Retires from City Crab and Seafood

by Susan Davis on 20/07/09 at 9:59 am

That's what George Said When PETA Came to the Rescue

At 140 years old, George had a good life.  He had many close calls throughout his notorious career, but always managed to escape unscathed.  However, like all aging creatures, George deserved some extra care and attention in his golden years, and that’s how PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) got involved with the story.

You see, George is a 20-pound lobster that had been spending the sunset of his life in a tank at City Crab and Seafood, a popular New York City eatery, where the price of steamed lobster begins at $20 a pound.  Although he was more of a mascot for the restaurant than an entrée option, there was always the possibility that someone would choose George for their dinner (although who in their right mind would really want to dine on a 140-year old lobster?).   Had he been chosen as a dinner entrée, the customer would have to fork over $400 smackeroos.

George waited with other lobsters for that fateful day when he might be chosen for someone’s gourmet meal.  Two customers picked him out, all right.  But their selection didn’t lead to a dinner plate — it led to a phone call to PETA, the animal rights group, who convinced restaurant manager Keith Valenti that releasing George back to his natural habitat for his retirement years would be the right thing to do.

PETA president Ingrid Newkirk applauded City Crab and Seafood for their compassionate decision to allow George to live out his days in freedom and peace.   He now resides somewhere on the ocean floor off the coast of Maine.  He left no forwarding address or e-mail, preferring to live out his remaining days in blissful anonymity.