I don't think it's a question of "people thinking that kids are stupid" William, more a question of knowing that a lot of adults are morons!
I couldn't agree more. I know a girl (13) who was given rabbits. her parents brought three siblings (2 boys, 1 girl), and because they are siblings they believed they wouldn't mate! fast forward to now, the girl picked up the rabbit and out pops a premature baby that died instantly. she then gave birth, the mother had no nesting box, just a dirty litter tray. the girl did all she could, but it is out of her control. they all died over night to the cold and a few had been killed by one of the males. the parents still refuse to separate them, buy another cage, or even neuter. they live in america so there is little I can do.
the problem is is that when parents buy pets for their kids, they expect (for some forsaken reason) that the kid can do 100% of the work, and that isn't the case. a 13 year old kid doesn't have a stable income to pay for vet bills, a huge cage and so fourth. they don't seem to factor in said pet can get sick, or said pet needs neutering (in some cases), or said pet will need a huge expensive cage....
I see mothers walking in to P@H with 5 year old kids asking them if they'd like a hamster, and I just cringe. most of the time these parents haven't done any research, will let their kid pick out some gross little cage, the thing will be shoved in there. later on they'll either be forgotten about, returned because it bit (no duh), or just die of a lack of care. said parent won't do anything as they brought it for their kid so its the kids responsibility!
my two eldest sisters had a rabbit. it was locked away in the garage, in a tiny 2ft hutch, never came out. after my dad & their mother divorced, the rabbit didn't go with them because they didn't want it. at first they came over every day to feed it, but eventually my mother (no relation to them) had to pick up on the care because they became bored. the things pen was just caked in poop and pee, eventually it died. my dad did nothing because it was "their responsibility" (meanwhile they're 6 & 13) and their mom did nothing for the exact reason. nobody checked up on it.
their hamster met the same fate, it was cool for a few days and then my mom ended up picking up the duty before it finally passed away.
the problem is is that kids get bored, they have such tiny attention spans. you can not expect a kid, unless they have a stable income, to take up 100% of the work. cleaning yes, but buying bedding, food, vet bills may be difficult for them to meet, yet people do not factor that in. its not the fact that kids are stupid, its the fact kids are kids. a pet is a big responsibility as it is a living thing, if the parent isn't going to partake in joining in (which will likely encourage the kid) then the animal will suffer.
in that sense, no pet is a children's pet unless the parents will step up.
yes there is the exception to the rule, people like those on this forum, but it is an exception to the rule unfortunately
This should just be assumed, but it seems people don't assume that when they hear the words "children's pets".
never assume, it makes an ass out of you and me, as my dad would say. with so many pets, of all types, suffering or being returned to shelters, there clearly is an issue. parents are buying their kids pets, not doing any research themselves, expecting the kid to do everything, and then not taking on some responsibility as the adult.