A Spanish animal rights charity is demanding that “Nancy the dolphin trainer” doll be recalled from toyshop shelves, because it “promotes the exploitation of animals”.

The Associació Cetàcea, a Catalan organization dedicated to the defence of marine animals, has launched a petition on the website change.org calling on Spanish toymaker Famosa to recall one of its most popular dolls: “Nancy the dolphin carer”.
The doll, which retails for €32,95 ($37), is sold with a dolphin and important accessories for looking after dolphins, such as a bucket, a hoop and a handbag.

“It represents a step backwards in terms of all those values animal lovers want to pass on to new generations,” the animal rights charity wrote in its petition on change.org.

“It is a doll that promotes the exploitation of animals,” the organization’s spokesman, Montse Valls, told the Spanish Huffington Post.
Dolphins living in captivity suffer “high levels of stress and depression and are medicated on a daily basis to help them cope with the anxiety,” according to the organization.

Famosa, the company who make the doll, have strenuously denied it depicts a dolphin trainer. “Nancy is a carer, not a trainer,” Antonio Fernández, director of HR and Communications for Famosa, told The Local.
The toy manufacturer says the doll actually stresses the importance of care for animals, rather than exploitation.

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