Out of gift ideas but not out of loved ones??

[c9]

Check out Heifer International. cap_hill_latte introduced me to this great charity.

How it works:

• you buy an animal
• Heifer International gives the animal to a family in need
• they raise, feed, love, care for the animal and call him george
• they use the animal to feed and provide for their family
• they give away some offspring when they appear so others get the same benefit

Check out the catalogue! They're so cute. I gave my coworkers a flock of ducks and a flock of chicks.

Cheap but meaningful gifts! Suitable for those with animal allergies! What could go wrong?

Comments

[friendofjack.livejournal.com]

What about the step where they slaughter George and have him for dinner?

[c9.livejournal.com]

Circle of life! (cue Elton John)

[ironmanjt.livejournal.com]

Matt's sister bought us a goat last Christmas, which ended up with a family in Rwanda - lol

[c9.livejournal.com]

Was it from this specific charity? I didn't see any indication that I would find out where it went. If I do find out, that would be just awesome.

[ironmanjt.livejournal.com]

No, I believe it was from a different charity.

[bartok.livejournal.com]

Fantastic, send an animal to a starving family, so that it can, well, starve with them.

[c9.livejournal.com]

You're such a glass-half-full kinda guy. I'm glad NZ hasn't ruined you. :)

[bartok.livejournal.com]

They're running ads all the time here for "send this cow to Sri Lanka" for only pennies a day.

It irks me. :p

[nihilicious.livejournal.com]

Yes, because the intention is clearly that the animal will be a household pet, and not be useful in any way. :S

[bartok.livejournal.com]

I have it on good authority that farm animals do occasionally have to be fed and watered in order to be productive.

Unlike lawyers.

[c9.livejournal.com]

Happily, they appear to target families with food and water but not much else. The ultra-poor are left behind yet again. :)

[bartok.livejournal.com]

Excellent, that will ensure ready fodder to sew together my sneakers.

[nihilicious.livejournal.com]

# they use the animal to feed and provide for their family
# they give away some offspring when they appear so others get the same benefit

Umm ... the animal's offspring I presume?

[c9.livejournal.com]

I suppose that's one option.

[sarah-sosiak.livejournal.com]

The tagline for the sheep used to be "Sheep are a sure thing!". I'm still immature enough to find that more than mildly funny.

I gave a flock of ducks to the staff at the Peet’s I go to. It ended up netting me more than what I paid for the ducks in free lattes. This really is the gift that keeps on giving!