Cape & Islands News

Cape Lobster saved, now a pet instead of dinner

Lenny the Lobster finds safe new home at Mystic Aquarium
Finding a home for a 3 foot long, 100 year-old crustacean not easy

WARREN - If lobsters have feelings, Lenny, a 17 1/2-pounder who nearly became dinner last weekend, is undoubtedly breathing a huge sigh of relief today. The lobster, which was caught off Cape Cod and wound up as a dinner special at the Wharf Tavern restaurant, was saved Friday by a Bristol family who just couldn't stand to see him boiled with butter. Since Sunday, the giant crustacean has been acclimating himself to his new home at the Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Conn., where the family brought him after buying him from the restaurant.

"He was on special, $150 for him and a bottle of wine," said Bristol resident Keith Maloney (on right with Jennifer Cullinan and Lenny), who rescued the crustacean with his wife Susan and two children after the family went to the Wharf to celebrate his daughter's 32nd birthday.

"They only charged us $130 because we didn't have the wine." The Maloneys were listening to their waitress recite the specials Friday when they learned of Lenny, who had been named by restaurant staff.

"We immediately all kind of went up and wanted to see what a lobster like that looked like," said Mr. Maloney. "I said, 'I'm not going to let that lobster get eaten.'"..."I said, 'I'll buy it but I want you to hold it for me until I can find a place for it,'" said Mr. Maloney...

Read the rest of this Warren RI Times Gazette story here, and comment below.