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

DD had a Little Live Pets bird in a teeny green plastic cage, way too small for it up even spread its plastic wings! So cruel!

But I can assure you that we won’t be getting any actual caged birds any time soon. The fact that it had a voice memo chip in it that DD used to use to shout “I am a poo” into was probably a good tip-off to her that it wasn’t meant to be taken as a real pet. (I doubt she thinks real ladybirds are pink and go around a miniature racetrack for hours either, even though we had those ones too.)

Chill out OP.

One of my kids has a toy dog that comes in a cage not much bigger than it. It is in no way a reflection of real life, my hamster lives in a cage miles bigger for a start so even to a 5 and 7 year old it's obviously not real. Not to mention they are aware dogs need walking and feeding unlike the toy one.

I hope so anyway because one takes a lamb to bed and the other child a dragon. If they grow up and try to do that or have tea parties with lobsters, penguins, rabbits, dragons, lambs, bears, cats, dogs, meerkats, monkeys... they are in for a hell of a shock.

Or I could do my job properly and educate them on reality Vs pretend and pet ownership. Some parents won't but it isn't the fault of toy companies. There is so much information out there about pet keeping there is no excuse.

I’m guessing the reason that people consume this stuff is because bacon tastes nice, not because they’ve played with a miniature version of Clarkson’s Farm.

me personally? No I don't. I kept my guinea pigs in huge homemade C&C cages, not hutches or pet store cages. But I still think you're reaching with this.

Yeah ànd every small child that leaves their baby doll upside down and naked on the sofa should be placed on the child protection register

This is the maddest thread I have ever read. What are you lot on about? They are toys! They are not real!

The wonderful thing about this is it's not actually real, it is a toy, so can be kept in its small cage, because its plastic.

If and when you get a real guinea pig then (and this is a bold claim I know) it might be the chance to have a conversation and re-iterate the difference between toys and actual real live animals

Stop relying on a toy to parent your child.

I completely agree with you!
Maybe we on mumsnet could write a letter to the company asking for them to include a sticker or booklet detailing how to care for guinea pigs appropriately.
They won't do it but 100 or so emails asking the same thing could work to change things in future.
They could market the fact that they are ethical by ensuring kids know the true cost of owning real pets.

Something like "even though Ginny the Guinea Pig doesn't mind living in this cage on her own, real guinea pigs need more space and friends to be happy" and link to a website detailing how to care properly.
You could also email various animal charities about it.
Lizards and sea animal toys aren't the same kind of thing. This toy is perpetuating a stereo type about the care of caged animals.

Or we could publicly complain to them on twitter/ instance/ Facebook and force change that way.

I know it seems overkill but people are sold guinea pigs for £10-15 and hamsters at £7 in my local pet shop. It's sad. Rabbits are about the same. Maybe 15-20. They sell tiny hutches with no run.
It's sad.
Rabbits life expectancy used to be q couple of years. They can live very long in the right conditions. A tiny cage will kill them prematurely as that is the wrong conditions for them to live.
A dog not being taken for walks, a cat being shut up not allowed out, it's all the same.

change needs to happen.
Would any of you accept a golliwog? It's just a toy too. But it's not acceptable anymore.

Disney put disclaimers at the start if the movies because of these kinds of complaints. Do it OP, I will too.

But they sell tiny hutches.
In the pet shop
where they sell the animals

It's like goldfish in a goldfish bowl.
The fish can grow way bigger but don't because of their environment. Also having a bowl rather than tank or pond is disorientating for the fish but we do it because we are wanking humans with dominion over everything.

I can kind of see where you're coming from OP.
I think the real issue is the terrible advice given by pet shops to potential owners and unscrupulous breeders.

I also keep Guinea Pigs (and am a vet nurse), and the advice I've been given and overheard when in pet shops is appalling.
It's especially bad in the fish keeping department, where I've heard people buying five or six Goldfish for a literal goldfish bowl, all bought on the same day (so no cycling of the tank which can takes weeks), no filter, no advice about how big they grow, nothing.
I've seen people buying several hamsters to live together (specific species are solitary and cannot be housed together).
I've seen people buying one rabbit or one guinea pig (a complete no-no in social creatures).
I've seen (and been given myself) terrible and potentially lethal advice about husbandry and diet of all kinds of rodents, and I've seen mis-sexed animals all in cages together (good luck in a couple of weeks when the babies arrive unexpectedly!).

But I do see your point that these ideas about small cages/bowls should not be accepted. Perhaps the toy should come with a little leaflet about real Guinea Pigs and their needs (aimed at children of course) so that children can learn more about them.
I think pet shops have a lot to answer for, but then again, I've also been on several Guinea Pig forums online and some of the advice there is mind boggling, and people proudly posting images of their pet shop cage which is not even big enough for a mouse, let alone ONE Guinea Pig.
Animal welfare in small furries and fish still has a LONG way to go in this country.

How about 100 or so emails to pet shops advocating for them to include booklets about how to care for Guinea pigs or even a sign educating customers that Guinea pigs need to live with other Guinea pigs in suitable hutches with adequate space.

Also, advocate for their employees actually being trained to be knowledgeable about the various animals, their care needs etc. that they sell.

Because this would actually make more of an impact.

YABU. It's a toy. Children know the difference. I doubt they try to swap the heads of actual human beings like they do with Lego people, or throw real animals around like they do with toy ones either. Toys are toys. They are made to be played with any way you want.

What on earth has a racist doll got to do with anything at all? Nobody’s saying ‘racist portrayals of black people are funny haha’ they’re saying ‘a child playing with a toy animal that doesn’t represent real pet ownership (given that it glows from inside also) has nothing to do with animal cruelty.’

And why is it ‘not the same for lizards and sea animals?’ Why is it then ok to sell toy lizards without appropriate vivarium, necessary lighting etc, when they are extremely misunderstood pets who often die from lack of care? Is it because… they are… just toys?

Well I'm really sorry to those who don't like them but dd had one from grandparents and has barely stopped playing with it. It's actually a rather nice toy, she is very happy with it and has been tending lovingly to mum and babies!