So we go up to the supermarket today to buy some Cream of Tartar to complete our playdough making. Simple task.
I smelt it before we saw it. The animal farm. Without George Orwell. Small animals right out in front of the supermarket. Like being at a fancy Chinese restaurant and choosing which animal will you dine on tonight? Oh I'll take that little piglet running about screeching. Not.
Of course we had to go in and pat the animals. Man it stank. Seriously. I am a country girl, I am well familiar with the warm smell of cow pats. But this was something else entirely. Oh and the parents letting the kids chase the small animals around. Fail.
In fact, I think the whole scheme was FAIL! Too many small animals in a small enclosure with small people chasing them around on small feet, squealing small squeals.
Alpaca.
Ducks.
Ducklings.
Geese.
Geese.
Chickens.
Bunnies.
Bunnies.
Lambs.
A 2 week old goat (oh man - soooo cute!).
A calf.
I quickly herded my smalls out of that pen, and as we were leaving the piglet started squealing and the Doctor remarked that he hoped the piglet was not dying. Yep. Me too.
Small animals. Supermarket. Squealing small pig. Not cool. Or am I being a fuddy duddy?
10 comments:
That is definitely not cool. Poor animals!
Poor animals. I do remember them being at the supermarkets around here once before. But I have also seen them at fairs and markets, outdoors, where they are probably more suitable. As for parents letting children chase the animals, total fail. Like the mother I saw at the shops today, on a Winters day, with two small children with runny noses wearing tracksuit pants, jumpers and no shoes. Call me a fuddy duddy too, but if it is Winter and your kid has a cold, put some shoes on the kid. Right? Right?
:)
How long will the animals be there for? If it is just a day or so , they will be fine methinks however letting small kids chase and scare the animals - well that is crap. we use to have goats we got them as babies, one met a horrible tragic death and I cry everytime I see a goat- still!
Surely, you can teach even little kids that animals are living things and need to be treated as such....i cant stand it when parents let their kids chase animals around like they are just big toys...
Was there anyone there to give the kids a little instruction on how to interact with them? I too feel like a funddy duddy saying this but kids interacting with animals as a learning experience is great...when the animals are just entertainment, not soo great...
I'm with you, though I don't like the smell of those mobile farm things in most locations...outside a supermarket is a little off...
Wrong!!!
went to the local show recently (sunshine coast qld) and not only were many of the baby animals being handled roughly, but carer/keeper whatever they are called (carer is not accurate) was kicking them to move them and when asked by a few parents questions like - does this (being stuck in a crowded pen day in day out with 100s of people petting and poking and chasing them) freak them out the typical answer was a "its all they know they are just animals. They dont know any better". Broke my heart, and even harder trying to explain to my 5 yo why they would do that and why I'm not a fan. I wonder how things like this go with RSPCa etc surely they must check/audit and have guidelines about how long they are there, at what age, do they get moved elsewhere for a rest so not petted within an inch of their lived, are they treated well by both visitors and "carers" saw the best quote on the wall of the Animal Hospital at Australia Zoo this week that says "Those who pet and baby wild animals 'love' them . But those who respect their natures and wish to let them live normal lives, love them more" Edwin Way Teale, Circle of the Seasons - 1953. I know the animals in these pettings zoos arent usually "wild" animals but think the principle of this quote applies ie it is not letting them live normal lives surely
End of rant. Soapbox away x
I don't even let my kids go in the pen, especially if it's one of those ones you have to pay for. I make them look over the side.
I always hope that Karma means those chasing kids get bitten by a rouge guinea pig. I don't get the parents that go on a 'mini vacation' as soon as there kids are occupied
Yep chasing baby animals is a big fail. Kids need to be taught respect (you hear me respect!!) when it comes to living creatures. They are afraid, they don't have their mums, be gentle!!
Post a Comment