Adoption is not for animals

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In case you can’t see it in the screen shot, it says “Adopt by Mail or Fax.”

You can adopt any animal at the San Francisco Zoo. Choose your favorite animal species and the “purrfect” Package for you!

Animal adoptions make “grrreat” gifts too! Whether it’s an anniversary, new baby, birthday, Earth Day, Father’s Day, graduation, holiday, Mother’s Day, New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, wedding or other special occasion, an animal adoption is a “pawsome” present for anyone at anytime!

Your contribution will provide vital funds for the care and enrichment of all of the animals living at our San Francisco Zoo and will also help to advance our Zoo’s work with wildlife conservation organizations worldwide!

Adopt an animal now and enjoy the many special benefits of being a ZooParent!

A Basic Animal Adoption Package is only $50 and includes:

* Personalized certificate of adoption and gold star seal

* Framed, color photo of the animal species you select

* “Nature Notes,” educational fact sheet about the animal species you select

* Complimentary issue of Zoo Views, our quarterly magazine

* Invitation for two to our annual ZooParent Day

Animal adoptions are valid for one year from date of contribution.

Please note that animal adoptions include and support all members of that animal species living at the Zoo.

All adopted animals remain at the Zoo to receive the special care of trained professionals.

I bolded the parts that really got to me.

I’m picking on the San Francisco Zoo here, but they are FAR from the only ones who do this.

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“PayPal”? “Certificate of Adoption”?? (Thank God it is personalized at least.) “ADOPTIONS MAKE PERFECT GIFTS“????

Mel at Stirrup Queens and Sperm Palace Jesters wrote a post today that talked about an old post of mine. In it I was complaining about how people throw around the word ‘adoption’ and the problems that causes me when explaining adoption to my kids.

Firstly, Mel had nice words about my blog. She embarrassed me! So thanks for that ;)

Secondly, she got me thinking about this topic again. At a parent’s night about a year ago, someone was talking about ‘adopting’ a school that was having a hard time. My palms were sweating and my heart was about to explode, but I spoke up and asked them to consider using another word. And just last week a teacher at that school asked me how I would feel if their classroom ‘adopted’ a family for the holidays. I felt great that she had remembered what I had said at that long-ago parent’s night!

I certainly have no problem helping schools or families having a hard time, but it isn’t ‘adoption.’ If for no other reason that you ‘give them back’ eventually. And that is why I thanked the teacher for asking me about it and asked her to think of another word. I suggested ‘sponsor.’

For the record, I have no problem with someone saying they are ‘adopting’ an idea or philosophy. You are using the word to say that you are taking something and making it your own. Making it a part of yourself. Forever. I think that’s about right.


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Comments

12 responses to “Adoption is not for animals”

  1. Domestic Goddess Avatar

    You know, as someone who hasn’t adopted a child it didn’t ever occur to me that this term would cause pain to someone who has. Thank you for pointing this out and offering the word “sponsor” as an alternative.

  2. Plain Jane Mom Avatar

    I’m just having a hard time figuring out how to explain this all to Mike. Fortunately he’s not a reader yet!

  3. Oh, The Joys Avatar

    Could you please fax me an elephant? Thanks.

  4. Plain Jane Mom Avatar

    I believe I’ll email you a Chinchilla instead.

  5. Mel Avatar

    Woohoo! I embarrassed you–mission accomplished! :-) I think you say it perfectly when you say: “you are taking something and making it your own. Making it a part of yourself. Forever.”

  6. mombat Avatar

    Interesting. I’m adopted, but had never considered that the term might have special meaning for adoptive parents. I like “sponsor” outside the family context as an alternative. In fact, my husband and I used to joke that we were “co-sponsors” of our dog because “owner” made her sound like a chattel. Thanks for the thoughtful posts.

  7. crunchy carpets Avatar

    Funny, Sesame street was about adoption today….I quite enjoyed explaining it to Adam and he thinks it is great and we have to adopt a baby right now.

    And I agree that the word gets bandied about too much these days and for inapropriate things.

  8. panthergirl Avatar

    You’re so much like me. Certain things are SUCH hot buttons and people who don’t get it, just don’t get it. (Having been involved in birth work, the media portrayal of childbirth is usually what gets MY palms sweating!!)

  9. Anita Avatar

    And I always thought that zoos’ “Adoption” drives were just funny and cute.

  10. Rhonda Avatar

    Beautifully said. A lot of people just don’t “get it” regarding the word adoption, I’m glad that some do. :)

  11. :: Suzanne :: Avatar

    This is a great post and I quite agree.

    Would you consider adding it to the Adoption BlogPost Roundup>? I’d love for more people to get to read it.

    adoption blogpost roundup

  12. \’Adoptions Services\’…

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