Please DON'T give animals as a party favor (Vent)

[lulugirl]

I agree w/ the majority, it's a really dumb idea.

 

[Marseeya]

I'm sorry, I just don't see why anyone would think this is a good idea without checking with the parents in advance.

People can be so irresponsible when it comes to animals.

 

[TinkerBess_SnowTori]

I only wish dd had gotten a gold fish. It will be 3 years in Oct. DD came home with a party favor of a dwarf hamster. That night went out and spent $50 on stuff for that dumb thing. Can't believe it, but he is still alive ( I thought they only lived a year or two) and going strong. Go Hammie!! I will say, he is a cute little thing, and I am NOT even an animal person.

I am flipping out - a fish? a hermit crab? a hamster? -- it is just so ridiculous --- and then I have a crying child because I am a mean mom who won't let him take home the party favor...

Where does this stop??

But it has given me an idea -- I think we will give out Kittens with our Lion King themed B-day party this year

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Well, when I was little, I gave out goldfish as a party favor once.

All the parents seemed to love the idea, and nobody had any problems with the fish dying too soon.

(however, in this case, well ... a picture of the goldfish in question might explain better:

)

 

[Briarmom]

I am flipping out - a fish? a hermit crab? a hamster? -- it is just so ridiculous --- and then I have a crying child because I am a mean mom who won't let him take home the party favor...

Where does this stop??

But it has given me an idea -- I think we will give out Kittens with our Lion King themed B-day party this year

Why not Lion cubs?

The fish is bad, the hermit crab is ridiculous, but the HAMPSTER!! That is just mean.

 

[MoniqueU]

I would of out and out freaked out at the hampster. Sorry but those things creep me out.

 

[magicfan]

There was a movie out not too long ago called Kicking and Screaming, where Will Ferrell was a soccer coach, and he handed out finches (birds) in little cages to everyone on the team. The parents all looked at him like he was nuts.

It's hard to believe that people really do hand out live things as party favors. Do they realize that the parents have to spend a lot of money buying supplies for the little critters after they take them home?

 

[SleepyMom]

When DD19 was about 2, maybe 3 years old we were invited to Easter at my ex's cousin's place, she gave each kid there a bunny rabbit! I was not a happy camper, we had no place to keep it and didn't have a clue anyways on how to take care of one. Luckily we were able to find a home for it with someone who already had bunnies and knew how to care for them.

I heard a few years later she had little ducklings or chicks (can't remember which right now) for all the kids... thankfully I was divorced by that point and didn't have to go through that again. None of the parents had a clue before she did it, she just brought them out and let the kids pick which one they wanted.

 

[mrsgus06]

Yup, went to a Nemo-themed birthday party a couple years back where each kid was given a gold fish as a favor. Went out and bought a bowl and food and the fish died in a few days. Then we had to buy another gold fish.

We went to my SIL party for her oldest daughter last year. It was also a Nemo party. She thought it would be great if each child was given a goldfish as a favor. All 5 of my youngest came home with a bowl and a fish. We had to go out, buy food and a tank (can't keep all five in one small bowl, can't have 5 small bowls sitting around). Anyway, we still have 2 of those fish! Logan, the 3yo, thought it would be great to dump my small jar of instant coffee into the tank earlier this year. I truly beleive that those 2 fish are really dead, but the caffiene high is still in effect and they are too wired to give it up!

 

[Planogirl]

Eck!!! Sorry but I think that this is odd and I wouldn't have ever done it.

Hermit crabs? Has anyone seen those poor painted things they have at the mall? I always refuse to let DS near them.

 

[Mom2Ashli]

I have never heard of anything like this.

Yikes I have a petting zoo party in two weeks, I wonder what kind of favor I will get. Maybe a pony?

 

[PlaneJoy1]

My DD went to a church carnival with my mom last year. They had one of those plastic swimming pools with goldfish in it. Low and behold, she got 2. One died soon after bringing it home, the other is still alive. We had to go and buy a fish bowl, food, etc. My parent ended up buying her a fish tank for Christmas, so now she has 2 additional fish and a place to put them. Not something I would have done otherwise! Now we have a fish tank to clean and change the water in. When do I find time to do that????

Now if someone were to give us a hamster, rabbit, or anything else I would have to say that I would give it right back to the mom or whomever is in charge and tell them no, thanks. I wouldn't think twice about it. Hopefully the message would sink in that these types of gifts just aren't appropriate. I don't want to be forced to become a pet owner.

 

[cats7494]

I find that to be extremely odd and a horrible idea!
Why the heck would you think that all parents are ok with getting another pet?
We already have 3 cats, 1 dog, and a chinchilla - not looking for another pet!
If we want one - WE will buy one!

How weird and so very thoughtless to the parents AND the animals!! I could not even imagine the rationale behind doing this!

 

[mickeyfan2]

I have never heard of anything like this.

Yikes I have a petting zoo party in two weeks, I wonder what kind of favor I will get. Maybe a pony?

Just attached a rope to all of the animals and had each kid a rope when they leave. They can all get differnent pets - sheep, goats, ponies.......

 

[Mom2Ashli]

Just attached a rope to all of the animals and had each kid a rope when they leave. They can all get differnent pets - sheep, goats, ponies.......

I am not giving the party - I am going to one. And I don't think I like that idea....

 

[CheshireVal]

I think it's a really bad idea. I'd be horrified if one of my kids (not that I have any yet) came home from a party with a fish.

I like fish, but it would cause a real problem in our household with our cats (the siamese cats in Lady and the Tramp come to mind )

It seems a little-- no, a lot-- presumptuous to just foist a fish on an unsuspecting family!

 

[SandraM]

In the end you are the parent you have the right to say no your child can not have it, so why should it be such a big deal, different strokes for different folks!

It's one thing if the parents have been asked (and agreed) before the animal is offered to the child, it's quite another thing to have to explain to a child why they can't have this pet. Why should a parent have to deal with an upset child because of the thoughtlessness of some well-meaning pillock?

I'm sure everyone would agree it would be totally crazy and unacceptable to give children party favors such as a real St Bernard puppy, right? Well, to some people, a goldfish/hermit crab/hamster/rabbit would be just as unwelcome!

Also, over the lifespan of these pets, a considerable amount of money may need be spent, and it is unreasonable of someone to inflict this expense on an unwitting parent whose only offence was to send their child to a party.

JMHO

 

[MandM-Mom]

It's one thing if the parents have been asked (and agreed) before the animal is offered to the child, it's quite another thing to have to explain to a child why they can't have this pet. Why should a parent have to deal with an upset child because of the thoughtlessness of some well-meaning pillock?

I'm sure everyone would agree it would be totally crazy and unacceptable to give children party favors such as a real St Bernard puppy, right? Well, to some people, a goldfish/hermit crab/hamster/rabbit would be just as unwelcome!

Also, over the lifespan of these pets, a considerable amount of money may need be spent, and it is unreasonable of someone to inflict this expense on an unwitting parent whose only offence was to send their child to a party.

JMHO

Its part of being a parent you can't always be the good guy, children have to realize if you say no, its no, thats it! The problem will lie with the parent not wanting to "upset" the child, in my family I have to say no at Birthday parties all the time because all they hand out is sugary sweet treats that decay my childs teeth, which costs me lots of money in the long term as well.... I say no, I feel bad yes, but I am the parent and I decide what is right or wrong for my child and if the host chooses to give out lots of sugary things I don't tell her how wrong it it is, we say NO THANK YOU!

 

[MamaLema]

Just when I think I've heard it all.

All pets are responsibilities. You don't take a fish home, put it in water, end of story.

You have to buy the food, feed it, clean the tank, etc. I wouldn't be happy if someone gave my kids fish as a party favor.

 

[DoeWDW]

The hamster as a favor really threw me for a loop! What were they thinking?? My brother was asthmatic and severely allergic to all animals with dander so no way would that hamster have been allowed at my house.