To think MN shouldn't be promoting old fashioned and cruel methods of pet ownership

[Newfluff]

OK, my teens will say 'it's not that deep' but AIBU to be saddened that the best toy of 2022 is based on cruelty?

Guinea pigs are social creatures that need to live in pairs, but ideally groups. They need space to thrive not a tiny handbag cage.

I'm sure the majority will say I'm batshit and that it doesn't matter as they aren't real, but this perpetuates the idea of it being acceptable to house pigs alone in dark cages, and this shouldn't be promoted in 2022

@Newfluff That’s what you should be aiming at rather then the toy industry.

I kind of get where you're coming from, OP.

My own bugbear is how often goldfish are protrayed in bowls or small tanks. I spot it on TV all the time and it drives me mad. It just creates a general impression that it is OK to keep them that way when it is far from it.

Lots of people don't go proper research before getting a pet, especially those seen as more simple pets like fish (and probably like Guinea Pigs).

That said, this is just a toy and they very often mimic a version of life that is far from reality.

Its cruel to keep teddy bears in the house. Unless you own a forest, you shouldn't get one!

It's not real ffs. Can you imagine how pissed off parents would be if they had to buy a full sized guinea pig cage to accommodate a toy?

It’s out of stock everywhere. Thanks OP.

I’ve spent most of my life owning horses trust me it doesn’t matter what accessories Crafty Pony provide unless they are actually relieving you of at least £50 (usually live pony/horse costs considerably more) every week and the £80+ for shoes every 8 weeks or more frequently in lots of cases, somehow managing to fill you every spare waking moment with horse stuff/activities preferably in the pissing rain and up to your knees in mud) and letting you experience endless highs and crushing disappointment, (usually more of the latter) and finally having you vet on speed dial whilst he systematically relieves you of all your spare money then Crafty Pony are not giving you any insight into the joys and disappointments of owning these complicated but addictive animals.

It's a toy 🙄

How many people who buy a single Guinea pig or a single rabbit are doing it because of a toy/play scenario they had as a child?

Probably none. The real outrage and issue is with the pet industry. That is where our efforts need to go. Focus on changing the pet industry and how we sell animals as pets.

Some pets require a license to keep them that requires you to learn about how to keep them.

Perhaps that is what we need to do for all animals kept as pets.

That is where it starts, not the toy industry. Not imaginative play, which can loosely reflect reality but also reflect any number of things that have no correlation with reality because it is imaginary, creative, fantasy.

@Newfluff I get your concern, I just think it is misdirected. Focus on changing the pet industry. That is what will make a real difference.

I get that you understand the difference between toys and reality. But I don’t think you realise that children’s play isn’t solely about learning about real life.

It is about many things. One of them is exploring and developing your imagination. The rules that are applied to real life are suspended in an imaginary scenario. Magic exists!

We can’t take that away from children. We can’t turn every play scenario, every toy, every story, every movie into a moral lesson. It takes away the freedom of imagination and the simplicity of fun.

That is a hugely expensive piece of plastic tat that would entertain for a day, tops. On that basis it should be illegal.

Mn don't control the adverts directly

Should they also ban all beauty adverts as promoting unrealistic looks ?

And play kitchens because they are too small and plastic pans would melt on a real hob?

I'm not sure why you're telling me how much it costs to own horses - I have 6 of them in my fields right now. I'm also not sure why you'd think I'd need your idiot's guide to horse ownership. None of mine wear shoes though, so that's something...

You're missing the point though. It's not about making toys inconvenient for parents, or taking the joy out of toys so that nobody can ever do anything with a toy that they couldn't do with the real thing. CP are a joyfully interpretation of horse ownership, where the idea of horse welfare and care are modelled and explained so that children can learn how horses are kept, or play catch with their toy horse / put it in a buggy wearing a nappy / dress it up as batman as they choose. This toy sets out to model how guinea pigs shouldn't be kept, and in my view, that's pretty shit.

I agree OP. I have well loved gerbils who live in a 150 cm by 60 cm cage in a spare room. The number of people who say that this is such a large cage for small animals. Actually its only 50% larger than the minimum! And bigger is better. Anything that emphasizes the fact that a cage should be many times the size of the animal would be a good thing. it doesn't need to be to scale obviously.

@Newfluff A toy guinea-pig does not perpetuate the idea that small cages are acceptable. What nonsense. I used to work for an animal charity, but this is just so ridiculous I can hardly believe someone would think it. Toys are not reality, that is the whole point.

I can't bear to see creatures in less than ideal conditions and it's obvious to anybody who has any empathy for living things when it's not.

YABU

Its a toy that doesn’t take up tons of space. No one would buy it if it was life size

Get them a real Guinea pig and get them the right kit.

Toy high chairs and toy prams are not life size either but kids seem to understand that their baby brother can’t by put in them.

My eldest child had some of these when he was about 8 - I am glad to report that as an adult he has progressed to extremely responsible pet ownership.

How am I to know you have horses? As Im sure you are aware plenty of people have absolutely no idea about the cost and time factor involved in horse ownership and I would hate someone to think that purchasing Crafty Pony sets gives them a good insight.
Anyway I genuinely hope you have a reasonable dry winter with your 6 😊.

No, I'm not really seeing this. You could say exactly the same about any animal shaped toy as it wouldn't be in an appropriate pretend environment

It's more your bizarre assumption that I don't have horses that I find objectionable. There are a lot of posters on here with horses, so when you see someone posting about them, it's fairly reasonable to assume they know as much, if not more, than you do, unless you're given evidence to the contrary.

All you're doing is demonstrating that you don't understand the nuance of the issue with this specific toy, and why, in my opinion, it is very different to something like CP which at least aims to be educational as well as fun. Some people do buy horses without any real idea of how to keep them - as a professional in the horse industry, I've met new owners who don't know the difference between hay and straw, or how to put on a rug - but due to the price of horse ownership and livery, they're the exception rather than the rule, and people tend to notice if an idiot owner moves onto their yard. With guinea pigs, there is often nobody to notice and report issues, and their purchase cost with an unsuitable hutch is so low that there is little incentive to do their own research.

I feel guilty about that handbag with a dog in it I bought DD for Christmas now. Don't want her to grow up to be a Paris Hilton type of dog owner!

What happens when one dies? Most people with pets eventually get to the stage where they decide not to replace them when they die.

I imagine that’s the type of law that’s very difficult to police - it will be policed mostly in pet stores when the animal is being sold. So the law will be in effect making it illegal to sell a single Guinea pig unless they can prove they’ve got more at home I suppose.

I will say though (op might explode) this toy also comes with accessories and hair ties to dress the baby Guinea pigs up in different styles. And mummy Guinea pig’s ‘heart glows’ to show she’s pregnant. So pretty obviously not trying to imitate real pet ownership.

Jesus christ it's a toy ! Now I think about I'm a bit worried at how my niece treats her dolls , just chucks them on the floor and goes out . She's gonna be a terrible Mother .😂

You’re kidding? Donkeys don’t actually contain sweets? Bugger.
cancels raid on donkey sanctuary

I’m not sure why you’re being so argumentative. Only 10% of UK homes own horses so it’s hardly a “bizzare assumption”. Anyway I stand by what I said Crafty Pony doesn’t give you any true insight into horse(s) ownership however accurate the rugs are and I don’t believe that the toy mentioned does either. Both are just toys that are hopefully fun for children. Maybe you they are aimed at children who will never have either a Guinea pig or a horse. Again I genuinely wish you a dry winter (as before I am extending virtual olive branch). 😀