"LIFE'S TOO SHORT TO EAT BAD NUTS"

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Perching here and gathering my thoughts ...

Why we shouldn't sell pets to minors

30 October 2003 ~ 15:52

On 5th November we in the U.K. celebrate Guy Fawkes Night, when people let off fireworks to commemorate the foiling of Fawkes� plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament in the 17th century (Americans would be reminded of the 4th July, except that the weather is considerably cooler). People also build bonfires, and kids make effigies of Fawkes called �guys� for which they ask you to pay a penny if you think they�ve made a good effort. (They call out �penny for the guy!�)

Anyway that�s the background; but of course, people being people, they cannot be trusted to use fireworks safely and properly, and often do nasty things such as throwing cats on bonfires or putting fireworks through peoples� letterboxes.

A story appeared in the papers the other day about some �kids� who tied a live gerbil to a rocket and let it off, killing the gerbil. I was so incensed that I wrote a letter to the national newspaper The Metro and today it was published, as below. I think it speaks for itself:

Regarding the matter of the gerbil tied to a rocket, not only should fireworks be banned from sale to anyone under 21, but so should pets. In fact, we should be asking ourselves if it is really right that any teenage thug can walk into a pet shop off the street and buy a live animal. I feel strongly that animals should be sold only by registered breeders because then hopefully some thought and consideration will go into choosing the pet.

We don�t sell alcohol to anyone under 18, and yet, bizarrely, a 10-year-old kid can legally purchase a living creature. Something is definitely wrong with that and the law needs changing. Now. Before any more pets meet a horrendous death.


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