Group condemns chicken choking toy

[oenophile]

Group Condemns Chicken Choking Toy

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

SYDNEY, Australia - A chicken toy that squawks and flaps its wings when strangled is "grossly irresponsible" and sends the wrong message to young children, a spokesman for a leading animal welfare group said Tuesday.

The toy is manufactured by a Taiwanese company and is widely available in toy and electronics stores across Australia. It is marketed for children over 3.

A product description on the Web site of Jaycar Electronics, a major Australian importer of toy, says: "Grab him by the neck and he will squawk and cluck like mad, flapping his wings and feet wildly as if he is really being choked."

But Michael Beatty, a spokesman for the Queensland state branch of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said the toy was "grossly irresponsible" and sent the wrong message to young children.

"What's next? Burn a cat? Shoot a dog?" Beatty said. "Children of that age are likely to turn around and try the same thing on their pet bird or even the cat or dog. Then they're going to wonder why the animal fights back."

Jaycar's Managing Director Gary Johnstone said he was "amused and mystified" by the RSPCA's response.

"I would have thought they would have better things to do like saving real animals from cruelty," Johnstone said. "This is a toy that is used to relieve stress, it's meant to be a bit of a giggle."

:o :o

Edited October 18, 2005 by oenophile

[krys]

Teach your 3 year old how to manage stress with a toy. Then when he's 7 or 8 he can practice on real chickens and you can have dinner out of it. I wonder what the child will use to manage stress when he's 12 or 13?

[LG]

I wonder what the child will use to manage stress when he's 12 or 13?

Didn't Pirate cover that a week or two ago?

Making a squawk over this is silly. It's probably intended as a gag for adults. As such, it's dumb and perhaps in poor taste, but harmless enough. What would worry me would be any parents who might buy the gift for their children.

[dmiller]

Chicken choking must mean something entirely different in Australia, than it does here. :huh:

Edited October 19, 2005 by dmiller

[Sudo]

David,

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!

sudo

[LG]

Chicken choking must mean something entirely different in Australia, than it does here. :huh:

You think a monkey paddle would sell well in Australia?

[coolchef1248 @adelphia.net]

dmiller

tooo funny!!!!!!!

[Morgan]

Anyone remember Splat the cat? the stuffed cat that had been hit by a car! I loved that cat.

[jardinero]

Well, it was the first thing I thougt of too, David, but then; I just got out of chat ;)

J.

[jackdaniels]

chat will do that to some

[Ron G.]

Krysilis ponders...

I wonder what the child will use to manage stress when he's 12 or 13?

Most likely, they'll still be choking their chickens. It's great for adolescent stress.

[Belle]

LOL! I think teenagers will always be choking chickens whether it's condoned or not.....

[Brother Speed]

15, 20, 30, 40. Yeppers all them ages too! Hey! It's mine aint it?!

[outofdafog]

You guys are sooooooo bad hahaha.....

[krys]

Thet're not bad. They are wonderful!

[coolchef1248 @adelphia.net]

contrary to what my dad told me i haven't gone blind yet and i am 57

if a chicken needs to be choked it needs to be choked ^_^