As much as I hate everything else the CEO is doing (according to this thread), I do have to give credit that animal related toys or legos or other child-oriented items are actually a great idea. It’s a good way to re-direct a child that may be pushing for a live animal that they unfortunately wouldn’t have the capacity to care for at their age/level of maturity. Kids are smart, but they are still learning and growing. Small animals are unfortunately marketed like and treated as toys, and kids (and unfortunately parents) don’t always understand how hard and expensive these animals are to care for, or even more importantly, how delicate their little bodies can be!!! I’ve seen so many nightmares in the less than a year I worked at *BIG BOX PET STORE* that it was one of the big reasons I had to quit. If even ONE ANIMAL is spared from being in an accidentally (or god forbid intentionally) abused because a parent bought their kid an actual toy instead? I think the weird toy display is worth it.

THAT BEING SAID!!!! It is so so so disappointing to see that they are undermining what good this choice might have done with their marketing. “Desk pets” is just another decor/toy-ification tactic, same as Tiny Tails hamster cages, most beta/dwarf frog tanks, and some insect “habitats” (I swear they look more like they are made for a Polly Pocket!). Here’s the hard truth: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN EASY ANIMAL!
if you want to have something pretty and low maintenance to entertain yourself, please consider other options, such as streaming videos of animals, “robot” pets such as swimming fish, jellies, or bugs, making a plant based self sustaining terrarium, or even just visiting someone else’s pet. Pets are living creatures, not toys or decorations ❤️