Post by veggiewoman on Oct 24, 2006 19:16:04 GMT
www.metro.co.uk/home/article.html?in_article_id=6911&in_page_id=1
dated December 2004
What's the sickest present you've had?
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
TOYS MADE FROM real rabbit fur, grow- your-own-frog sets and hunting computer games have been branded the 'sickest Christmas presents ever'.
A toy circus complete with ringmaster and whip also features on the list of the most unethical presents compiled by charity Animal Defenders International.
'A few highly questionable items have crept into the toy market this Christmas,' said ADI's chief executive Jan Creamer.
'Is it really appropriate to teach young minds that live animals can be treated as toys or that dead animals make great gifts?'
At the top of the list is a new range of cuddly toys made with real animal fur from Nauticalia.
A toy circus made by Playmobil, which comes with cages and a ring master brandishing a whip, was condemned for 'openly promoting animal suffering' while a new range of 'live toys' by Amazon.com came in third place. The gift allows people to order live tadpoles so children can watch them grow into frogs.
A hunting computer game that encourages players to kill trophy animals was also lambasted by the charity.
The organisation added that parents should consider buying children a robotic dog instead of a puppy for Christmas.
'It's simple to give children gifts that will teach them how to love and respect animals rather than treat them as commodities,' said Ms Creamer.
dated December 2004
What's the sickest present you've had?
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
TOYS MADE FROM real rabbit fur, grow- your-own-frog sets and hunting computer games have been branded the 'sickest Christmas presents ever'.
A toy circus complete with ringmaster and whip also features on the list of the most unethical presents compiled by charity Animal Defenders International.
'A few highly questionable items have crept into the toy market this Christmas,' said ADI's chief executive Jan Creamer.
'Is it really appropriate to teach young minds that live animals can be treated as toys or that dead animals make great gifts?'
At the top of the list is a new range of cuddly toys made with real animal fur from Nauticalia.
A toy circus made by Playmobil, which comes with cages and a ring master brandishing a whip, was condemned for 'openly promoting animal suffering' while a new range of 'live toys' by Amazon.com came in third place. The gift allows people to order live tadpoles so children can watch them grow into frogs.
A hunting computer game that encourages players to kill trophy animals was also lambasted by the charity.
The organisation added that parents should consider buying children a robotic dog instead of a puppy for Christmas.
'It's simple to give children gifts that will teach them how to love and respect animals rather than treat them as commodities,' said Ms Creamer.