It seems as if a toy store in London has made it into animal news and not because of their cute animal toys.
The Hamleys toy store is having a big publicity stunt that may be good or bad depending on who you are and how you feel about using captive animals for sales.
In an add that has since been taken down but, you may be able to see on a cached page HERE, they are having real live reindeer and penguins in their store for a Christmas event. The reindeer will be in the store Nov. 29 – Dec. 3, 2010. They say that people will be able to view, pat, and feed “Santas’ reindeer”. The penguins will be swimming and interacting with their friends for public viewing on Dec. 6, 2010. Note that it does not say that they public can touch or feed the penguins.
This publicity to draw customers into their store has prompted 2 Facebook pages. You of course have Stop sHamleys using live penguins and reindeer as a cheap attraction. They have about 475 members that must feel the publicity stunt is putting the animals in danger and disagree with the store doing it. The other Facebook page made a very slight attempt to support the store (or they just want to try and PO the the other page). It is Bring on the penguins and reindeers at Hamleys toystore, London. They have a whopping 12 members that may spend more time posting their page links over at the 1st page to irritate than actually do any real support of the store.
There has also been a Twitter hash tag that is allowing concerned people to follow what is being said #sHamley
Now, the RSPCA has spoken about the animals care and are keeping an eye on the store and how the animals fare from the situation. You can see a bit about that in a Yahoo news story Outrage Over Hamleys’ Live Penguin Display.
I also found a blogger that went to see the reindeer display and was not happy as you can read (and see pictures) at Saddest Pictures. Darren Hector not only took some pictures of the reindeer he also tried speaking to one of the Hamleys marketing guru’s.
Let me say a couple of things here – I am not from the UK and have never been to London or even heard of the Hamleys store.
I do know people in the USA do successfully raise reindeer (caribou) and have used them for meat, racing, and displays (Reindeer in Alaska).
I had more of a problem with the penguins being around people and getting sick than the reindeer. Until I saw a story from 2009, Life in UK proves fatal to reindeer, about the issues of having reindeer in the UK. Now, I am not sure that having the reindeer anywhere there is safe. I do know that having a bunch of germie, screaming, jumping kids around can not be good for man nor beast.
I bet that other stores around the world are doing very similar publicity for the holidays, I just haven’t seen anything about them yet.
So what do you think…should stores bring in captive animals for sales?
Is it different than having an animal in a zoo or farm setting for the public to see?
And do you think Hamleys is really worried or doing this to help educate the public about the animals?
UPDATE - Hamleys has had a change of heart. They have canceled the penguins display and they have also taken the reindeer out of the store.
You can see their statement at their Facebook page Penguins at Hamleys’ Regent Street Store. Some of the comments are already rolling in over there. Seems that some people think this is even more of a publicity stunt. Personally, I don’t think it should matter if it is for publicity or the welfare of the animals that urged them to cancel having the animals. People should be happy that they canceled…and be done.
Thank you to IshaBlueBell for sending the original story idea and updated info link through Twitter.
Yes, if were not for others passing along news…we would all be so far behind.
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