That's why we all choose guinea pigs B3. They're great fun and they have proper characters and are interactive.
Having said that, many years ago I had to take a certain Tuppence pig (Golden Axe's sister as it happens) to the vet. By this time Tupps was nearly eight and the vet looked at me suspiciously and asked me was it "the same Tuppence"!!! I think she might have been some sort of record holder. She was ancient!
They're both lab crosses and just last week they smashed a jar of jam and ate it. I fully expected one or both of them to die!!! A couple of days later I cleared the decks, went to the tip and when I returned home they had eaten their way into the tins of dog food. The little one's a thief and the old girl is a tank. Nothing will stand between her and food. Not glass, not tin....!
We had a full hamster funeral when my youngest daughter's pet popped her clogs. Clark's shoe box with a cross from Palm Sunday stuck on the top with blu tack (she decorated it herself).
I dug a hole and we all recalled our favourite memories of daft stuff we remembered about said hamster. My daughter (aged 8) said a little prayer as we lowered the box into the hole, we filled it in and she added a cross made of lolly sticks for a headstone.
Then we went and got ice cream, it was a lovely send off.
no , quite right it is not scary nor harsh ..... it's life and we shouldn't hide it from kids but make it part of life ! sadly a few have popped their clogs with us but we've loved and respected every one xxxx sorry ! anyway washed all the socks today , just waiting to see if any have disappeared when put away , then I'll be calling on wren
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That's an excellent name for a hamster. My friend's child insisted on calling her guinea pig Golden Axe!
We can't remember why. He was black and white so woe betide the one who shortened it to Goldy!
I read somewhere that the lifespan of a hamster is about 18months, but a classroom hamster can last up to 7years. I wonder why
I can't see the point of a nocturnal pet with a very short use by date unless you are a fickle insomniac, of course.
That's why we all choose guinea pigs B3. They're great fun and they have proper characters and are interactive.
Having said that, many years ago I had to take a certain Tuppence pig (Golden Axe's sister as it happens) to the vet. By this time Tupps was nearly eight and the vet looked at me suspiciously and asked me was it "the same Tuppence"!!! I think she might have been some sort of record holder. She was ancient!
Some children aren't allowed to cope with loss. Parents can be overprotective....same reason classroom hamsters last longer than ordinary hamsters!
http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/talkback/pet-companions/980453.html
It starts well...
They're both lab crosses and just last week they smashed a jar of jam and ate it. I fully expected one or both of them to die!!! A couple of days later I cleared the decks, went to the tip and when I returned home they had eaten their way into the tins of dog food. The little one's a thief and the old girl is a tank. Nothing will stand between her and food. Not glass, not tin....!
Last edited: 21 May 2016 21:18:50
We had a full hamster funeral when my youngest daughter's pet popped her clogs. Clark's shoe box with a cross from Palm Sunday stuck on the top with blu tack (she decorated it herself).
I dug a hole and we all recalled our favourite memories of daft stuff we remembered about said hamster. My daughter (aged 8) said a little prayer as we lowered the box into the hole, we filled it in and she added a cross made of lolly sticks for a headstone.
Then we went and got ice cream, it was a lovely send off.
That's how it should be Kitty. That's reality. It's not harsh and it's not scary.
So true pp, my daughter appreciated being able to say her goodbye's in her own way (dressing the box etc).
She will be 17 this summer, but still has fond memories of her little pet.
no , quite right it is not scary nor harsh ..... it's life and we shouldn't hide it from kids but make it part of life ! sadly a few have popped their clogs with us but we've loved and respected every one xxxx sorry ! anyway washed all the socks today , just waiting to see if any have disappeared when put away , then I'll be calling on wren