My DS got to take home his class hamsters, Harry and Ginger, in first grade for the Holidays. His sweet little sister who was around 2 hugged Harry a little too hard and well, he went to Hamster Heaven around 3 hours later. This happened two days before Christmas break was over!!! The next day, DH and DS went to tons of pet stores looking for another male hamster that looked like Harry (we called his teacher the day he passed away). We found one with a little shorter hair.
When DS brought the hamsters in on Monday, one of the kids said, "Matt, why did you cut Harry's hair?" Well, the teacher and the kids had a little talk about the frailty of life right away!!!!
Never again will we babysit class pets!!!!!