Help - Santa said no!!

[samwitwicky]

My DS has asked for a pet this year and unfortunately it isn't going to happen.

He's written to Santa and I thought maybe I'd write back to him explaining why he hasn't got a pet. Only I'm awful with stuff like this and have no creativity skills at all.

Anyone have any ideas?

Santa always checks with parents before bringing pets, mobile phones trampolines and whatever else you won't agree to.

@Drinkingallthewine

I helped a colleague draft a letter from Santa explaining why live animals aren't allowed as gifts from him but that he told them a secret - that their parents were planning to bring them in the new year to the local shelter to adopt a dog but they weren't to spill the beans.

Kids were thrilled knowing this 'secret' and the parents had lots of fun pretending that they just randomly bought a lead, dog bowl etc for 'no reason' and the kids were bursting with the excitement of pretending they didn't know what was going on.

This is so lovely!!! :)

Father Christmas doesn’t bring live animals… such a shame…

"Santa doesn't bring "
"Why not"
"Dunno, he just doesn't. What's that you're getting up to?"

In my world Santa bought a very narrow field of stocking presents.
Keep it simple, it lasts longer.

FC (Easter bunny, tooth fairy et al) don’t have licences for livestock!

Drop the Santa bullshit for this and discuss it properly with him.

Explain why you can't have a pet, e.g. Finances, work hours or whatever. Children need the truth to understand things. It's really damaging to fib children off.

Santa can only bring what would fit in a stocking. No live animals, they wouldn't fit and even if they did they wouldn't like it! Creatures are beings, not gifts.

@Drinkingallthewine

I helped a colleague draft a letter from Santa explaining why live animals aren't allowed as gifts from him but that he told them a secret - that their parents were planning to bring them in the new year to the local shelter to adopt a dog but they weren't to spill the beans.

Kids were thrilled knowing this 'secret' and the parents had lots of fun pretending that they just randomly bought a lead, dog bowl etc for 'no reason' and the kids were bursting with the excitement of pretending they didn't know what was going on.

Oh that is sweet!

@Brieandcamembert

Drop the Santa bullshit for this and discuss it properly with him.

Yeah, or tell him the thing fell off the sleigh and Santa was so pissed he didn't notice.

(I'm not helping much am I?)

@Hope478

I would use this opportunity yourself to sit down with your child and explain why pets are not presents. They should be well thought out new members of the family, if suitable. Explain why some families have pets and some don't. Explain why they're hard work.

I personally wouldn't have santa explain this. I would as mum.

This.

It's possible that a child is innocently thinking that if they ask Santa for something that mum and dad have vetoed then it's a neat way of getting what they want. You have to admire their creativity and determination.

So start out with Santa not being allowed to bring live animals - it's too cruel and distressing for them in a sleigh etc. Then discuss it as you would any request DC come to you with. Firstly is it a case of a) not this year or b) never? and chat to them about it, explaining why their choice of pet doesn't suit...

DS wanted a pet, but we lived in a rental and we both worked FT so it wouldn't be fair on a pet to be home alone all day unless it was a fish. Plus Dad has mild dander allergies so we can never have indoor pets. We explained that to him and he understood that it's responsible pet ownership to ensure they are happy with us as much as us with them. As a compromise his granny's cat had kittens so he "got" a pet kitten that lived with it's mummy at Granny's house and he visited it several times a week. That worked for us for a few years.

Now one of us WFH and we own our own home and we have his cat with us and also an elderly rescue dog. They are happy in our utility room or outdoors and that way they don't trigger any allergies either.

"Santa" wrote to DD many years ago that he "doesn't bring animals because the sleigh goes so fast and he would be worried that the animal would fall off it. Maybe she could talk to mummy about getting a pet in the New Year when there is not so much going on and the pet won't get frightened". Worked a treat.

Dear Susie,

I just wanted to let you know that you are doing a superb job of being good this year. You are kind and helpful and a great listener. Keep it up! I'm excited to bring you special presents for Christmas, but remember that some gifts just aren't possible.

For instance, I know that you want a puppy this year. Unfortunately, I have a strict "no live animals" policy. For one thing, it's hard for them to stay safe and warm all the way up in the North Pole. They're just little babies, and unlike me and the elves and reindeer, they don't have big heavy coats to keep out the cold.

For another thing, having a pet is a big responsibility. A lot of animals have to be trained, need a strict schedule, or take medication. All of them need to be given food and water and exercise every day. If your parents say you can have one, maybe you can go pick one out together. But if they say no, you need to listen.

It's okay to want an animal friend-and I have plenty of cuddly animal toys with your name on them! Just remember that a pet is more than just a toy, and your mom and dad will know best if it's a good time to get one.

Thanks for being such a great kid! Merry Christmas!

Love,

Santa

Dear xxx,

Thank you so much for your letter! I've enjoyed watching over you this year and was so proud to see you learn how to do xxx, xxx, and how kind you've been to xxx.

I really hate to disappoint little children at Christmas, however, I'm afraid that I can't grant one of your requests: we've got a 'no pets as presents' rule here at the North Pole.

I bet you're wondering why that it? Well, there's lots of reasons!

1. I have to deliver presents to all the children in the World - if everyone asked for a pet then I'd have no room in my sleigh for all the other treats! I'd have to juggle tanks, cages, carriers and hutches! Plus - do you know how much they poo?! You'd be able to smell my stinky sleigh all the way from the North Pole!

1. Imagine the chaos! Jenny has asked for a cat, Ruby wants a dog and Oscar has asked for rats this year. What do you think would happen if I put them all together in one sack? And let's not even talk about Ivan has asked for a tiger…

1. Pets don't actually make very good Christmas presents. They need a lot of peace and quiet when they're settling in - and lots of attention. You'd have a bit of a boring Christmas if that happened! All of the animal charities in the UK agree and ask me every year to remind people that a pet is for life, not just for Christmas.

But don't worry- I can tell that you're a very kind little boy with a lot of love in their heart so I promise you that you're in for lots of lovely surprises!

Take care and merry Christmas!

Santa xxx

Ps. This year I was thinking that instead of a mince pie and a glass of sherry you could leave me a xxxx and a xxxx for a change?

Jinx! @chaos76 one is better!

Thank you all, points taken on board.

@chaos76 and @CatOfTheLand THANK YOU! This is exactly what I was looking for x

We told ours it against the law for FC to bring live animals.

The problem with a letter from Father Christmas saying that he doesn’t give animals as gifts is that not everyone subscribes to that. This is your rule, not Santa’s. Another child in his class might well get a pet from Father Christmas this year.

We’ve told our DCs from a young age that Santa works with families I.e checks with parents that what’s been asked for is ok. Tell him it’s you that’s said no to the puppy. I’ve said no to lots of things over the years, for several years it was ride on toys, I use to tell my DCs we didn’t have room for them so told Santa not to bring them. Same response for phones, iPads and anything else we were definitely not getting them.

We did a letter very like that.. Infact we do one every Yr, I use Word and add a bit of clip art... Nothing fancy.
When the kids were little they used to be amazed santa remembered all the stuff they had done over the year, now they are young adults it's usually a funny spoof type thing, and pets were always a no because of all the animals on the sleigh... Too much poo, fighting, falling off...

My parents always made it very clear that Father Christmas doesn't necessarily bring you everything on your list. (Otherwise it'd get ridiculous).

You’re pretty sure that Santa doesn’t bring pets or technology. He needs to be completely sure a pet will be well-looked after by a responsible adult and will be loved for its whole life, because it’s a living creature and not a toy. The list is really just some ideas for Santa & the elves to think about.

I’m big on elves because things that aren’t in original boxes (ie second hand) can be made REALLY exciting as a trainee elf must have madd it.

well pets arnt made in santa toy factory... toys are