Was IBU to freeze DD’s hamster?

[SandyDrawsBadly]

I came downstairs on DDs Birthday to find that Wonder Woman the hamster was dead. Stupid fucking hamster

I didn’t want to upset DD on her birthday so didn’t tell her before I dropped her at school. I doubled checked when I got home in case it had been sleeping, but this was one cold dead stiff hamster and it’s red eyes were all grey, so it was definitely dead.

I didn’t want to ruin her birthday, but I didn’t want a slowly decomposing hamster in the warm living room either. so I popped it into a freezer bag and hid it underneath the frozen veg out of the way. I got her out the next day, defrosted her in the cage and “discovered” her death the next morning. Two days post birthday.

I was telling my friend but she said this was ridiculous over protective parenting.

So, was I unreasonable to freeze the hamster and has anyone else done stuff to save upset as I can’t be the only one, surely!

I take your point, Oakenbeach but I'm still surprised parents are willing to pick up the slack for pets when the novelty has worn off. We also had gerbils, but on the strict understanding that my sister and I fed and watered them and cleaned out the cage, otherwise they would be rehomed.

Well this is an instant mumsnet classic.

Well this is an instant mumsnet classic.

I hope you’re being sarcastic.

We also had gerbils, but on the strict understanding that my sister and I fed and watered them and cleaned out the cage, otherwise they would be rehomed.

And it’s that lesson that’s lead you to be the warm hearted, fluffy, non judgemental dote that we see here today.

Can't believe so many people are being precious about a small dead animal in the freezer. I once froze DS's dead guinea pig as the temperature had been below freezing for a number of days and the ground was too hard to dig a hole and bury it. I wrapped it in newspaper and put it in a shoe box in the freezer for 3 weeks unti the ground thawed and we were able to hold a proper 'funeral'. And we had a poem, sang All Things Bright and Beautiful and laid daffodils on the grave. It was 6 year old DS's first experience of death - sadly he has since experienced many more - both pet and human variety - but we haven't had to freeze anyone/thing else.

Surely, if outside is below freezing, the dead pets don't need to go in the freezer.

They do if you don't want carrion animals attracted to your garden

I'm struggling to see any connection between the lesson that an animal needs to be looked after for its natural lifespan, even when it's no longer new and interesting; and whether a person becomes, in later life, 'warm hearted', 'fluffy' (for anyone who thinks fluffiness is a desirable personal attribute) or 'non judgemental'. There's no logical link between the two at all.

I'm sorry if this offends you, but I just find it rather sad that a hamster can be ignored for two days by its nominal owner. I appreciate you yourself have taken responsibility for its welfare, which is absolutely the right thing to do, but what does that teach a young child, who is still learning, about responsible animal ownership?

'Fluffy' is actually a good term for the sort of person who doesn't take animal ownership seriously - I'm not saying this describes you, OP, but by letting young pet owners off the hook, we are in danger of creating a future 'fluffy' generation who have simply never been taught that an animal's needs are an ongoing thing which must be considered until that animal dies - so then we get more and more irresponsible purchases of 'designer pets' which are then sold on or rehomed when it dawns on their owners that their needs will go on and on requiring time and attention long after they've ceased to be a novelty, when this clashes with other things you want to do, when you're feeling ill - their needs never go away.

All I am saying is that, if you're letting your children have pets, you should insist that they take on at least some of their daily care - if they're too young to clean out the cage, let them change the food and water and be responsible for checking this daily. I don't think this is an unreasonable sentiment, or one which is deserving of sarcastic responses.

They do if you don't want carrion animals attracted to your garden

Carrion is usually attracted by the smell of decomposing meat. Hardly the case of a frozen carcass in a bag or a box.

This reminded me of a book I read when I was a kid. “Water Wings” by Morris Gleitzman, it definitely features a frozen guinea pig

They do if you don't want carrion animals attracted to your garden

To be honest, it wouldn't bother me having a small corpse in the freezer - as others have pointed out the freezer is full of dead animals anyway. This one is just fresher than most.

From the RSPCA's guidance on caring for hamsters:

Hamsters need:
Fresh, clean drinking water continuously. Check the water bottle daily for leaks and/or blockages. Change their water regularly and clean the bottle and nozzle properly to avoid contamination.

Observing closely - helps you notice if they’re behaving differently and can indicate something’s wrong. Consult the vet immediately if they show signs of illness

Leaving your hamster to fend for itself for two days isn't a good idea.

OP I can't believe you're getting a hard time from some people.

I think you're a genius. I'd probably have just left the hamster in the cage and hoped it wasn't noticed till the following day.

That is hilarious! I think it’s a nice thing to do though

I laughed until tears ran down my cheeks. Defrosting a hamster. But on the other hand I would have appreciated my mam doing this for me. I really struggled with the deaths of animals when I was little and on my birthday it would have been too much.

What a lovely mum you are. I'd have loved a mum like you.
You spared your daughters birthday from being spoiled by Wonder Woman not being quite so wonderful anymore.
I don't think it's barmy at all. It's thoughtful and heart warming

I think you absolutely did the right thing! When our first hamster died a couple of years ago, I really sobbed and I hardly ever properly cry. (TBF, I had had a truly shit week.).

I didn't think the DCs (10 & 8) would be that bothered but they were both hysterical - if it been either of their birthdays, it would have spoiled the day for them.

As an aside, when our next hamster died, I put in in the freezer (in a bag, in a box) until we could give it a proper burial. A few months later, I threw it in the bin 😳. I don't think it infected the pig, chicken and cow corpses.

@SandyDrawsBadly Wasn't Wonder Woman a little...y'know...damp after defrostation? How did you explain that? "Well, see, she got up, had a wee, hopped in the shower and then..."

carrion animals

Is that the one where Sid James, Kenneth Williams and Hattie Jaques are working at the zoo?

Lifecraft

Well my mum didn’t tell me my aunt had died for two days because she didn’t want to ruin a school disco.

I hope she didn't freeze her!

We've never frozen dead pets to bury them and we've never had any problems with carrion.

I am extremely disappointed to come back to this thread and find that Sandy has not seen fit to illustrate this event with a badly drawn cartoon.

I think you were kind and I would have done the same.
We've frozen a few cats, we live by a busy road and as an early morning dog walker I often come across the cat. I hate the thought of the owner coming across them like that so I go home, wake up hubby and make him wrap it up and if vet is open he drops it in if not in the freezer until they open.

Also have you read diary of a killer cat by Anne Fine, it's bloody hilarious and concerns a dead rabbit a bath and a hairdryer