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Cruelty to Animals?


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A recent survey of various cache logs has led me to the startling conclusion that some geocachers are quite possibly engaging in unacceptable practices regarding proper treatment of animals! I've seen references to various animals that are being mistreated, but for reasons unknown to me, hamsters seem to be the most common target of this cruel behavior.

 

My research has turned up the following examples of potential abuse, but there are surely more examples that can be found:

 

An April 30 log for this cache clearly indicates that someone left both a hamster and a frog in the cache.

 

In an August 1 log for this cache, someone specifically mentions that they have left behind a set of hamster handcuffs, acknowledging the evil nature of such a device. Who would place handcuffs on a poor hamster? Who could do such a thing? Hamsters don't even have hands!

 

This disturbing challenge cache in Pennsylvania actually requires you to leave a hamster in order to claim a find:

When you log your find in Allegheny County, you must leave a live hamster as a trade item. If you mentioned a hamster in your prior log, you are all set. If you did not trade a hamster, you will need to return to this county to log a find with the correct trade item.

This cache, located in Canada, was placed with a hamster inside nearly three years ago. I can find no evidence in any of the logs that the poor hamster was actually ever rescued from the cache. However, my French isn't very good, so I could have missed something.

 

Not only hamsters seem to be subject to this mistreatment. I also found evidence of cruelty to puppies and kittens. That's right: puppies and kittens.

 

Consider the following examples:

 

In a recent log for this cache, someone clearly left a puppy in the cache.

 

And in this cache, all the way back in January of 2006, someone left a fluffy kitten behind, deep in the New Jersey woods.

 

We must take action. Together, as a community, we can turn the tide and make a difference. Please, make an effort to discourage this cruel behavior today.

 

Thank you.

Edited by cache_test_dummies
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Umm, OK, it isn't International Talk Like a Pirate Day, nor is it April 1.

So what game are we playing today? <_<:rolleyes:

 

Did you get a time out from OT? <_<

 

I stand corrected, not only was a kitten left behind in the cited NJ example, but it appears to be a member of the finding team! :rolleyes:

Edited by wimseyguy
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Regarding the french cache, I can confirm that from the description there is a hamster in it. It is used to power a beacon to help geocachers homing in. Furthermore it is hidden in a peanut butter jar. Initially it was full as this is on what the hamster has to feed.

You need to vanquish and eat the hamster in order to claim a find.

The same exists with froggs and snails. Personally I prefer frogs and snails, the hamster fur makes me sneeze when I swallow.

Edited by Suscrofa
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Hmmm - seems confined to small critters, usually in the Jersey area?

Must have something to do with the trend towards smaller cache containers...

For example - have never seen a live cow or moose (or cow moose) left in a cache.

HAVE seen cow moose droppings all around caches! :(

 

We (my daughter and I) started our now-2yr old standard poodle off caching

the very day we picked her up. Here's Aero as a pup inside her first-ever find

(it's a BIG ammocan - Talkeetna Treasure cache) near Talkeetna AK.

Of course, we never closed the lid! At 9 weeks old she barely fit...

 

7cb59e3d-8949-4a3e-b9a9-f53077a7517a.jpg

 

I think the early conditioning has helped make Aero a stellar cache finder!

She absolutely loves ammo cans... or any other container she finds.

 

Maybe that's what the French hamster cachers are doing...

using their hamsters to sniff out caches, like truffle-pigs...

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A recent survey of various cache logs has led me to the startling conclusion that some geocachers are quite possibly engaging in unacceptable practices regarding proper treatment of animals! I've seen references to various animals that are being mistreated, but for reasons unknown to me, hamsters seem to be the most common target of this cruel behavior.

 

My research has turned up the following examples of potential abuse, but there are surely more examples that can be found:

 

An April 30 log for this cache clearly indicates that someone left both a hamster and a frog in the cache.

 

In an August 1 log for this cache, someone specifically mentions that they have left behind a set of hamster handcuffs, acknowledging the evil nature of such a device. Who would place handcuffs on a poor hamster? Who could do such a thing? Hamsters don't even have hands!

 

This disturbing challenge cache in Pennsylvania actually requires you to leave a hamster in order to claim a find:

When you log your find in Allegheny County, you must leave a live hamster as a trade item. If you mentioned a hamster in your prior log, you are all set. If you did not trade a hamster, you will need to return to this county to log a find with the correct trade item.

This cache, located in Canada, was placed with a hamster inside nearly three years ago. I can find no evidence in any of the logs that the poor hamster was actually ever rescued from the cache. However, my French isn't very good, so I could have missed something.

 

Not only hamsters seem to be subject to this mistreatment. I also found evidence of cruelty to puppies and kittens. That's right: puppies and kittens.

 

Consider the following examples:

 

In a recent log for this cache, someone clearly left a puppy in the cache.

 

And in this cache, all the way back in January of 2006, someone left a fluffy kitten behind, deep in the New Jersey woods.

 

We must take action. Together, as a community, we can turn the tide and make a difference. Please, make an effort to discourage this cruel behavior today.

 

Thank you.

And your point is? Are you trying to claim or insinuate that any of these behaviors regarding hamsters, kittens or puppies are not normal or acceptable? If so, you may need a checkup from the neck up.

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Are you trying to claim or insinuate that any of these behaviors regarding hamsters, kittens or puppies are not normal or acceptable?

That is exactly what I am saying.

 

Clearly, there are some who do not understand the seriousness and urgent nature of this issue. Perhaps someday a celebrity spokesperson will step forward to bring some much needed publicity to this important cause. In the mean time, I have begun a 'Save the Hamsters' campaign. We will be soon be hanging these signs at cache locations throughout North America:

 

no_hamster_caching.gif

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Has anyone ever tasted hamster? Well I have and I can tell you one thing for sure I wish there were more of them around, so tasty and sweet - mmmmmmm. Fry them up with some butter and a side of slaw (bedding material will work in a pinch) and I'm in heaven, three of them are a full meal.

 

I say leave them, they are easier to catch when they are in a cache :(

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Regarding the french cache, I can confirm that from the description there is a hamster in it. It is used to power a beacon to help geocachers homing in. Furthermore it is hidden in a peanut butter jar. Initially it was full as this is on what the hamster has to feed.

You need to vanquish and eat the hamster in order to claim a find.

The same exists with froggs and snails. Personally I prefer frogs and snails, the hamster fur makes me sneeze when I swallow.

 

Frogs and snails must be a welcome treat for you folks after all those years of being fed bratwurst and saurkraut!

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Regarding the french cache, I can confirm that from the description there is a hamster in it. It is used to power a beacon to help geocachers homing in. Furthermore it is hidden in a peanut butter jar. Initially it was full as this is on what the hamster has to feed.

You need to vanquish and eat the hamster in order to claim a find.

The same exists with froggs and snails. Personally I prefer frogs and snails, the hamster fur makes me sneeze when I swallow.

 

Frogs and snails must be a welcome treat for you folks after all those years of being fed bratwurst and saurkraut!

 

Don't know, wasn't there. Besides, I am not French. True, I like snails, frogs but sauerkraut too and EVEN hamburger that we prepare ourselves ! :huh:

 

PS: I feel some "resentment" against the Frenches. OK, true there are more believers in socialism and communism in France than in all of the former USSR and China together, that France - US relations are not that warm. Keep in mind that this is mainly the fact of rotten Parisians self labelled "intellectuals", but things are changing.

Edited by Suscrofa
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...And in this cache, all the way back in January of 2006, someone left a fluffy kitten behind, deep in the New Jersey woods....

 

I noticed a later log for this kitten cache. Clearly someone had traded up:

 

>April 29 by cpfoley71 (60 found)

This was one of my most memorable cache finds. The cache needs maintenance. The lid was off and the contents are wet. I couldn't sign the log. But what makes it so memorable is there is a raccoon living in the same place as the cache hide. I had quite a start when I peered in and a pair of bandit eyes were staring back at me. I left everything pretty much as I found it, including the raccoon. The lid is still off the cache. Thanks for a great adventure.<

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I am sick and tired of people complaining about hamster caches. Constant complaining in these forums is an attempt to get hamster caching banned. If you don't like them don't hunt them. Stop trying to mold the game to suit your vision of how it's supposed to be played. Filter them out. Ignore them. I don't really care what you do as long as you stop trying to have them banned. Play however you want but don't spoil it for people who enjoy these caches.

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I totally agree with you!

it is absolute and total cruelty to leave any animal in a cache.

They would get bored in there and possibly suffocate.

I don't see why people would even want to put a hamster in a cache!

 

I hope some more geocachers understand how cruel this is.

 

From

Angus.

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Most important rule is to use a container with air holes, this also allow water to collect so they will not be thursty.

 

31f6031d-adf5-49ce-884a-c8157bcc9d3c.jpg

 

eb8292cd-204f-42fc-8f30-0298bbc1b45d.jpg

 

We also have a mouses cache :)

 

297b5a57-0b0b-48e6-90e2-8c04a3798fb3.jpg

 

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!!!

 

This is THE most cruel thing i have ever heard of! you have put a hampster in a cach where it cant even turn around? are you mentaly insane or something?!!!! No one in there right mind should do this! I cant belive that this person has had there caches archived and given a serious warning.

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I am sick and tired of people complaining about hamster caches. Constant complaining in these forums is an attempt to get hamster caching banned. If you don't like them don't hunt them. Stop trying to mold the game to suit your vision of how it's supposed to be played. Filter them out. Ignore them. I don't really care what you do as long as you stop trying to have them banned. Play however you want but don't spoil it for people who enjoy these caches.

 

Were you thinking when you said this? How can you possibly think that if someone is against animal cruelty that they should ignore these types of caches, by simply filtering them out? that's like saying if there are crimes that are happening in your neighborhood and you dont care, you should just ignore it? you cant ignore something like this!, it has to stop!

I thought when I heard about hamster caching i thought that was a theme or something related to it, But to actually put live hampsters in a tiny container where they cant even turn around is unacceptable! The owners of geocaching should band these caches!

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I am sick and tired of people complaining about hamster caches. Constant complaining in these forums is an attempt to get hamster caching banned. If you don't like them don't hunt them. Stop trying to mold the game to suit your vision of how it's supposed to be played. Filter them out. Ignore them. I don't really care what you do as long as you stop trying to have them banned. Play however you want but don't spoil it for people who enjoy these caches.

 

Were you thinking when you said this? How can you possibly think that if someone is against animal cruelty that they should ignore these types of caches, by simply filtering them out? that's like saying if there are crimes that are happening in your neighborhood and you dont care, you should just ignore it? you cant ignore something like this!, it has to stop!

I thought when I heard about hamster caching i thought that was a theme or something related to it, But to actually put live hampsters in a tiny container where they cant even turn around is unacceptable! The owners of geocaching should band these caches!

Link to comment

I am sick and tired of people complaining about hamster caches. Constant complaining in these forums is an attempt to get hamster caching banned. If you don't like them don't hunt them. Stop trying to mold the game to suit your vision of how it's supposed to be played. Filter them out. Ignore them. I don't really care what you do as long as you stop trying to have them banned. Play however you want but don't spoil it for people who enjoy these caches.

 

Were you thinking when you said this? How can you possibly think that if someone is against animal cruelty that they should ignore these types of caches, by simply filtering them out? that's like saying if there are crimes that are happening in your neighborhood and you dont care, you should just ignore it? you cant ignore something like this!, it has to stop!

I thought when I heard about hamster caching i thought that was a theme or something related to it, But to actually put live hampsters in a tiny container where they cant even turn around is unacceptable! The owners of geocaching should band these caches!

It is people like you that make things even worse you know that?

I worked hard on 30 hamster caches, 10 LPHCs, 4 multis with hamsters that where trained to take you to the next stage, 15 5 gallon caches packed to the brim and a puzzle that used a cannon.

Well the puzzle one didn't get published because the reviewer didn't want to take a chance that somebody wouldn't read the "Adult only" disclaimer.

But between the other 29 I had over 700 hamsters out there and some irresponsible eco terrorist set them all free.

Not only did all the hamsters die that winter but their rapid breeding wreaked havoc on the local ecosystem and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage. Then after the thaw we had a veritable plague of flies causing live stock to become ill. It also boosted local spider populations who's bites caused many children to become ill. Upon finding out it was related to hamsters these children developed an immediate disdain for small furry animals and proceeded to beat not only hamsters but mice, rats, gerbils, and in some cases baby bunnies, chinchillas and guinea pigs with blunt objects.

The owners of most hamster caches happen to be very responsible and check their caches daily and your unreasonable rant and demand is only going to cause more death and destruction should the wrong person read it.

Edited by Vater_Araignee
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