Absolutely not/
I mean what next? a week off if your goldfish pops its clogs?
It all depends on the circumstances. If my (theoretical) kid is obviously depressed and upset over it, then of course I’d let him skip school. Skipping a day of school is nothing in my opinion. There are a million other school days, what difference does one make? I’m not an idiot. I can tell if someone’s genuinely upset or if they’re just faking it. If the kid is clearly not really that distraught over the hamster, then I’d be like, “come on now…you’re just looking for an excuse!” If he is clearly hurt by it, then there’s no reason why he should have to face a potentially stressful day at school on top of it. Kids can have a real bond with animals, even a small one like a hamster. Don’t underestimate that.
Oh come on! 16 years old. A hamster. A kid would probably just be trying to get out of class. If the hamster ruse worked, next week it could be his pet worm. Eight years old I could maybe buy, but not 16.
I went to school when my dog died when I was 14, and I loved that dog. I asked to stay home, but my mother was not for it. She told me I would feel better with something to do.
She was right. Being around my friends with something to take my mind off it was much better than being at home where everything reminded me of the dog.
When the cat ate my first hamster, and the second one died of old age, I can’t say I was upset enough to even imagine taking a day off school either time. I find it difficult to emotionally bond with rodents.
If the kid gets a day off, it should be one day, and if they’re too upset to go to school, they’re certainly too upset to leave the house, meet their friends or go to the mall.
Yes, but if you HAD stayed home because of the dog, I could understand that. I can understand a favored and loyal dog. But a hamster???
When I was young my pet head louse was cruelly crushed by an unfeeling nit nurse.
Despite my protestations and the fact that I was overcome with grief I still had to stay in school.
Took me weeks to get over my loss it did, then I found a whole bunch of other buddies to play with and do you know they ALL looked just the same as Oscar, my first friend 
I had a flu virus I was quite fond of. After it died, THEN I had to go to school. Go figure!
You know there are actually people who really, really like hamsters, right? I bet the people at Hooked on Hamsters are rather emotional when one of their pets dies.
Wook at dat! Who’s a cute widdle beady eyed rodent? You are! You are!
Um, what is that, a food basket?
(Sorry. Been starving myself for Thanksgiving.)
laughing
I think you’ve been in Asia too long, my friend! Over here, we have pets, and then we have food, and the two aren’t often interchangeable!
(Enjoy your Thanksgiving. Hamster turnovers, anyone?)
Have we heard back from the OP? I’m wondering what the OP’s take on this was, and what part they played in the (presumably real) scenario.
No. One day his girlfriend is going to break up with him, or he’s going to get cut from the basketball team and he’s still going to get up and go to school.
One of my co-workers is dealing with a very messy divorce and another has a wife battling breast cancer. They come to work just about everyday. Learning to compartmentalize our emotions is a great coping mechanism and there’s no better time to learn it than the day Nibbles kicks the bucket.
The pressurized CO2 on my downstairs aquarium malfunctioned yesterday, and I lost 2 angelfish (and a 3d isn’t looking like he’ll make it.)
I don’t think I’ll be able to make it into work this week.
What do you say? Thanksgiving is this Thursday? I had no idea!
(BTW Angelfish can live 10 years - a hell of a lot longer than a hamster!)