[Bunsey]

yes, i've had those reactions all the time, similar sorts of things. Like at work, if you say your hamster has died, peoplejust say "are you getting another?" but if someone's cat or dog has died people are like "oh no, how awful, you poor dear, you must be devastated". People think any pet other than cat or dog is just like a toy. A lot of people can't understand why you take a hamster to te vet when it's cheaper to buy a new one (i.e. why would you pay to mend a broken toy when you can buy another for less). Most people see hamsters as a child's toy.