A snowy owl at a Harry Potter DVD launch party in 2004.
Scott Barbour / Getty Images.
It happens every time there's a popular movie featuring a companion animal: people run out and buy that animal. And it's now happening to owls because of the popularity of Harry Potter. The problem in the U.K. has reached the point where an owl sanctuary has opened.
Don Walser has opened the Newport Owl and Monkey Sanctuary on the Isle of Wight, and currently has about 20 owls. Walser explains, "Children read the books and see the films and say to their mums and dads they want one and parents don't realise how much care it takes to look after them."
Sound familiar? It should.
In 1997, shelters reported a 300% increase in the number of unwanted dalmatians in the aftermath of - you guessed it - the Disney movie, "101 Dalmatians," which is ironically a movie about saving the dogs.
Sales of pet rats increased when the movie "Ratatouille" was released. While some ended up at shelters, others were almost certainly abandoned in the wild because some shelters do not accept rats.
The film "Finding Nemo" resulted in a double whammy. Not only did sales of clownfish soar, but well-intentioned children were flushing their own pet fish down the toilet. In the movie, fish flushed down the toilet end up in the ocean, alive and free. The fact that the movie was about a captured fish in an aquarium who wants to be free was apparently lost on the families who rushed out to buy clownfish to put them in tanks in their living rooms.
We're not going to see fewer animals in animated movies. They are too compelling and endearing as characters.
What we need is for adults to change their attitudes about pets being disposable. Children learn from their parents whether pets should be acquired impulsively and whether an unwanted animal who has lost his charm after a month should be dumped at a shelter. The parents should also understand that they will be primarily responsible for the animal, instead of getting rid of him when Junior repeatedly forgets to feed him.
If you decide you're able to provide a forever home for an animal, check your local shelter or Petfinder.
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Comments
Here is yet another one Ms. Doris in which we both can agree upon.
I have been involved with dogs/working dogs all of my life and nothing disappoints me more than being witness of the “mad dash” to the pet store when a popular movie features a certain animal within.
I also feel the same way about The American Pit Bull Terrier, because there was never really a problem with the breed, until the general public became fascinated with the dog through media hyped portrayal of them, and that is when the abuse of the dog became so wide spread.
Thank you for pointing out such irresponsible release’s and hopefully the movie people will begin to place a note within their films, discouraging people from purchasing an animal just because they saw it featured in a movie.
I share ye sentiments T. Michael Riddle,
These creatures once they are purchased by people come to realize all the hype in having that specific animal as a pet grows old to then they neglect to care for the creature the way it needs to be taken care of,I suppose some who purchased the owls probably didn’t know that those owls (All owls)are fed live food,that alone would deter me from purchasing such a creature.
Well said Irish,
Even though you and I are at opposite ends of the animal issue, I have discovered that there is a common interest between us, and that is for the overall welfare of the animals with which we are involved.
We are here together on this great big globe for better or for worse, lets learn to respect the animals a little more than the average person has shown in the past.
Lets give them the simple love which they deserve and not look upon them as just a common commodity.