The worst kid's party favor ever!

[laurabelle]

Originally posted by Lanshark
It was a terrible idea to give a living creature as a party favor. It devalues the animals life to put it in the same category as dime store toys and candy.

Yes, I agree wholeheartedly!

 

[snoopy]

My kids got the goldfish too at a party recently. I was very surprised, to say the least, but kept my feelings to myself. I explained on the way home that the fish would probably die within days, so they were prepared for it when it happened.

It is a bizarre party gift, but I guess its more common than I originally thought.

 

[pajamommy]

Yep, that's got to be the worst party favor ever. My kids both got a fish in a bag at a party we went to in Nov. Luckily I had a fishbowl at home. I thought they would die in few days, but do you know those suckers lived for months!

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

My niece gave my 80 year old mother a "Fish under glass" aquarium (see below), which mom thought was beautiful...at first. Now that the novelty has worn off, it's just work for her to take care of it.

No one should ever ever ever give a PET without the recipients permission, period.

Cinders, that story is very sad and disgusting. Why don't they have a pie throwing contest or dunking contest with the principal/teachers as the victims? It was a HUGE fundraiser at my kids' school. And at least the "victim" had a say in it.

 

[RUDisney]

I guess I would have a bigger problem with giving a dog or a cat or a hamster. The goldfish given were probably the 7 cent variety feeder fish. Gosh, I'd rather be given to a small child only to die a natural death in a fishbowl than to be fed to a larger fish.

 

[DocRafiki]

Giving any living animal as a party favor or gift is just plain wrong, and I think I qualify as "animal lover." Even if the recipient is expecting the "gift," you're still placing it in the same category with all the other gifts that will be soon forgotten. I would no sooner give my non-existent husband a son as a birthday gift.

(well said, lanshark!)

Grrr, what was I supposed to do, say no???

my response: "A pet is not a toy; it's a RESPONSIBILITY and a COMMITMENT, and one that I did not volunteer to undertake."

Gosh, I'd rather be given to a small child only to die a natural death in a fishbowl than to be fed to a larger fish.

You know, I'm not sure why most goldfish die so quickly, but I'd guess it has to do with a combination of starvation, overtoxified water, and acid-base imbalances. You say "natural" like they die of cardiac arrest in their sleep. I'd rather a quick death in the teeth of a predator, thanks.

 

[CarolA]

I agree the fish was wierd.

Of course I am the aunt who gave my niece a bug collection kit one Christmas. I KNEW she would love it (she likes bugs and keeps "adopting" snails as pets!) I am sure my SIL wanted to kill me, but it probably wasn't the first time. (MY SIL keeps trying to convince me to babysit the snail!)

 

[WillyJ]

Well, I think the mother not only used poor judgement in her choice of party favor; but worse the way she foisted them on you in such a sneaky way shows she knew it wasn't the right thing to do. . .


I don't know if I'd go so far as to seek revenge or to condemn her as an awful person based on that one incident, but I do think I'd find a way to let her know you didn't appreciate her behavior, and that no one should ever give or offer a child a pet, even a goldfish, without asking the parent(s) first when the child isn't present.

And I'm sorry your daughter had to deal with the fish dying Laurabelle. . Giving the fish as a party favor may not have been the most terrible thing in the world, but it was certainly thoughtless and rude.

 

[Jillpie]

Can I assume you will be declining her birthday invitation next year?? The worst part about all of this is that she did all of this in FRONT of your daughter, so how could you say no? Rude doesn't describe what you went through. It doesn't matter if its a puppy, kitten or fish...it should be a family decision, period. I feel for you, its just unbelievable. I'd be curious to hear what all the other Moms had to say about her "favor"?

 

[Michelle]

Yes, I agree, that IS the worst party favor ever. I guess I'm a mean mommy because there is no way I would bring home a fish. We had a guppy once that my daughter's babysitter bought without permission (and she SWORE she would care for it).

Giving pets as a party favor is just wrong. I don't understand parents sometimes.

 

[adamak]

Yup. I totally agree. I am an animal lover, that's why it's wrong to give out live animal as gift. If the mom wants to promote pet-loving behavor, get a petstore gift cert or something like that.

There should be lots of research, preparation and education befor having any kind of pets. Period.

 

[Laura]

Originally posted by Lanshark
It was a terrible idea to give a living creature as a party favor. It devalues the animals life to put it in the same category as dime store toys and candy.

Absolutely right on! It ranks right up there (or down there?) with bringing home little chicks on Easter Sunday. Sure, they're cute, but they usually die because people don't know what to do with them. And if one happens to survive, the family's like, "what do we do with this CHICKEN?" Is it a pet? Do we eat it? Do we set it free? Eat its eggs? It's such a problem.

I'm not surprised that a fish died a day after you got it. Goldfish can die easily (we used to have fish when I was a kid), but not that easily! It must not have been taken care of properly before you took it home. That mother probably picked up a whole great big bunch of feeder fish all at once, and the dead fish must have not been well before you got it. Fish aren't really that much easier to take care of than dogs or cats. They aren't toys, most importantly.

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

Wow, I wonder how they talked the mom into giving out goldfish as a party favor! That drives me nuts- they're pets, not toys! I like that the animal shelter I volunteer for won't let you take an animal if you're intending on giving it as a gift, because chances are it will be coming right back!

And does this remind anyone else of that episode of Full House where Michelle wins a fish, and gives him a bath?