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 have sympathy OP. I well remember willing Jimmy Osmond to get a move on and turn up his tiny toes (it was clear he was on the way out) before it was time to go and collect DD from school. SHe knew he wasn't well, but I felt a dead hamster was an easier thing to deal with than watching him take his last breaths.

He obliged in the end, but it was close.

Now I’m thinking we need a bigger freezer, just in case similar circumstances arise chez Betty...

Our dog weighs 32kg.

You should worry Betty

Our great dane is well over 11 stones. Surgeon's skills may be required . . .

I think this was sensible and not over precious at all!

My mum told my sister her rabbit escaped. Years later they uncovered bones in the garden, wouldn't tell us what they were and had us REALLY suspicious about what was there. Eventually they confessed that a fox had left very grisly remains of said rabbit and they'd forgotten where they secretly buried him.

Now THAT was handling it badly - we thought they'd found a dead body!

Just chiming in to say that sounds like excellent parenting and I am in AWE of the poster who carved a goldfish out of a carrot.

Good move OP and not weird at all IMO. My Dad used to have a cattery, and sometimes a kitty would shuffle off its mortal coil whilst its owners were on holiday, so the only option was to stick them in the freezer.

Oh OP this is fab! You and I are definitely cut from the same cloth.

I've done some weird shit in my time with the best of intentions. I once cradled a dead cat all the way home. Not my cat, just a random dead cat and I was at least 10. I couldn't bear the thought of this random dead cat rotting in the sun. My mum (who wasn't expecting a dead cat brought home but also wasn't that surprised) wanted to chuck it in the bin but I insisted on burying it in our garden. I asked to take photos first to make "found" posters so that the owners would know their cat was at peace. My mum drew the line there.

I just had a lot of misplaced love to give

Also once the child gets older they'll notice how odd Mr Whiskers is as he has been alive 6 years.

Or 27 years, depending on how overprotective the parent is .

My friends parent did this growing up, my friend knew it'd died but wanted a funeral and we had a day out planned, so Hammy was temporarily frozen.

Honestly, 30 years on my dad will still make jokes around "don't accept an ice lolly at Xs house," "I hope there's no ice cream option at their wedding."

So basically, be careful who you tell....

A friend of mine thought that she had had ab exceptionally old hamster as a child, 8 years in total. Not the same hamster, her Mum broke it to her as an adult!

My DSis's hamster "died" when we were on holiday and she was 10. Only when my parents were burying it did they see it twitch a bit.

Took it to the vet, it was in a cancer coma [shock'] so they put it down and didn't tell my DSis until she was in her 30s!!

I would've done exactly the same thing as you, OP, which makes me batshit too.

I'm still traumatised by my hamster's tragic death.........he fell asleep at the wheel.

On second thoughts, you could have used the hamster to hold a dissection party for her.
No? Just me?

Sorry thats utterly bonkers, bu also quite..adorable?! Such odd feeling about this thread

YANBU, OP. You are clearly a very loving and kind Mum.

Amused at the outrage from posters whose own freezers will be full of dissected animal corpses

My dd would notice if hers was missing, the hamster comes up to the cage as soon as any one walks past it and the fucking thing keeps us awake every night in is wheel and chewing the bars 🤣

Also the last hamster we had, somehow put itself into a hibernation type state, we thought it was dead, all stiff and cold and weird. DH went to chuck it in the bin but felt a small heartbeat, managed to revive it by warming it up a bit. It died for real a few days later mind but it was an odd experience for sure.

I agree - but as the mother of a daughter I can assure you that the opportunity for over-dramatic grief would not have passed unobserved had she been given the news on her birthday.

This with bells on!

So I’m not the only one. Thank goodness.
youreggnogg Bringing home someone else’s dead cat is tragic and hilarious all at the same time.

Seems like perfectly sensible parenting to me. As long as you didn't mistakenly put Wonder Woman in the a stew it's all fine.

I’d have done it. Makes perfect sense to me 😂

Or a swap.

Yes I would have done the same, can't see the issue.

Anything for an easier life, up to and including cryogenic meddling.

It's all about ME.

Your DD needs to learn about sad things and that these sad things also happen on your birthday, I do however think it may have been something I could have done when my DC were small

I thought Hapsters can sleep and seem dead but only be semi hibernating?

And yes far easier than a trip to the pet shop for a body double.

*hampsters

PS calling a hamster Wonder Woman is genius!