Outside Citi Field, the home of the New York Mets, fans encounter a familiar sight: a dog dressed head to paw in team gear, sitting perfectly still on a small mat. The animal wears sunglasses, a cowboy hat, sometimes even a toy pipe clamped in her mouth. Her name is Sushi, a four-year-old pit bull, and she has become a controversial fixture outside the ballpark.
The dog’s owner, known as Norberto Fernandez — and at times introducing himself as “Charlie the Trainer” — positions Sushi in the path of thousands of fans arriving by subway. Those who want to shake her paw or snap a photo are prompted by a sign to make a payment, complete with Cash App, PayPal, and Venmo details. The message is blunt: “Don’t forget I don’t like cheap people” The Athletic reports.
Long Hours, Little Relief
Observers and animal welfare advocates say the setup hides grim conditions. Sushi often remains motionless for hours, even in extreme heat, without consistent access to food or water. Witnesses allege she is trained to suppress normal behaviors, like panting, which experts say is a biological necessity for dogs in hot weather. Christina Shusterich, a New York City dog behavior specialist, told The Athletic she believes such unnatural stillness may be enforced through the use of a shock collar — a claim Fernandez denies.
Past and present critics, including the founder of Mets fan group The 7 Line Army, have pointed out that Fernandez’s dogs, from his earlier pit bull Coffee to Sushi today, endure long, static shifts in all weather conditions for cash tips. Darren Meenan of The 7 Line described it as “animal cruelty played out right in front of our noses.”
Years of Complaints, Few Consequences
The complaints are not new. As far back as 2011, activists like Belkis Cardona-Rivera started Facebook campaigns such as “Stop Abusing Coffee,” alleging shock collar use and dangerous exposure to the elements. That year, the ASPCA investigated but said it found no evidence of abuse requiring removal of the dog, despite acknowledging the risks of prolonged sun exposure, CBS New York reports.
In the years since, the dogs have remained a fixture, and the methods appear largely unchanged. Sushi is still dressed and posed for photos, still expected to perform in exchange for money. While the Mets have now issued statements distancing themselves from Fernandez, the team maintains it has no authority to remove him, as he operates on city property.
Photo: Facebook / StopAbusingCoffee
The dogs wear costumes, sunglasses, and props for long hours.
Public Outcry and Protest
Social media has amplified the backlash. TikTok videos explaining the situation have drawn hundreds of thousands of views, while Reddit threads have spurred organized protests. One protestor, Mike Amory, dressed in a dog costume outside the stadium, holding a sign urging donations to the ASPCA instead of to Fernandez. As the r/NewYorkMets subreddit details, over several games, his efforts raised hundreds of dollars for animal welfare groups.
Animal advocacy platforms like Force Change have called for the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs to investigate, citing concerns that the spectacle prioritizes profit over animal welfare. They note Sushi’s prolonged immobility, heat exposure, and restricted access to water as signs of distress, not entertainment.
A Controversy Without Resolution
Despite repeated calls for intervention, Fernandez remains in his usual spot before and after games. The ASPCA has reiterated its opposition to using animals in entertainment where their needs are not met, but says it has found “no evidence of abuse or neglect” sufficient for removal. The New York Police Department has not taken action.
For many fans, the display remains part of the Citi Field experience. For others, it’s an exploitation hidden in plain sight — a living being turned into a prop. Critics argue that the absence of legal repercussions does not erase the ethical questions about subjecting a dog to such conditions for human amusement and cash tips.
Until public pressure turns into enforceable change, Sushi’s reality outside Citi Field will likely remain the same: endless hours in costume, unmoving under the gaze of strangers, as money changes hands nearby.
Click below to make a difference.
