When I was about 18 I got to pet a baby rhino. I was so enchanted I told everyone. and to the point that I’d like to do something with them. Some are very lovely, and expensive, jade, etc. There is artwork including a needlepoint and a lovely batik. There are candles, napkin rings, soaps, kitchen tools, my god, all kinds of stuff.
So I offered them to 2 animal preservation groups of which I am a member, offering to have them raffle or auction them as a group to raise money, and then I would pay to ship them to the highest bidder or winner, No takers.
I honestly just don’t want them any more. How I can do something with them that’s not put them in the bin, which I won’t, nor leave them for family members to bin when I die (I hate that thought). Thoughts?
When I was about 18 I got to pet a baby rhino. I was so enchanted I told everyone. and so for every Xmas, birthday and whatever, I got a rhino something. Now I have over 200 of the things and it’s to the point that I’d like to do something with them. Some are very lovely, and expensive, jade, etc. There is artwork including a needlepoint and a lovely batik. There are candles, napkin rings, soaps, kitchen tools, my god, all kinds of stuff.
So I offered them to 2 animal preservation groups of which I am a member, offering to have them raffle or auction them as a group to raise money, and then I would pay to ship them to the highest bidder or winner, No takers.
I honestly just don’t want them any more. How I can do something with them that’s not put them in the bin, which I won’t, nor leave them for family members to bin when I die (I hate that thought). Thoughts?
Grandma didn’t really care for turtle souvenirs but everyone thought she did so that’s what she was gifted for many decades. Grandpa added a room to the house to serve as The Turtle Museum. Put up a sign. Collected small admission. Sold candy. If a rhino museum isn’t available, you could establish one. Become a media star. Don’t forget the podcasts.
You could donate them all to a Goodwill or St.Vinnie’s. If they put them together, it might be a cool display. I’m sorry that no animal groups want them. I wish a children’s hospital wanted to build a shrine for kids (who might have a rhinovirus).
A friend’s mom had the same problem with frogs. Problem with that is there are so many goofy-looking frog products. You’ve probably got classy rhinos, she’s got a hundred clumsy frogs with googly eyes.
How big of a box of stuff do you have? If you’re willing to ship it to me in Ohio I’d be willing to sell on eBay for you. We can donate the profits to a “save the rhinos” foundation.
I hate to throw stuff like that away too. I want it to go to someone who would appreciate it, even if just as a little trinket.
When I took my nephew to one college for the pre-admissions tour, we saw a big collection of camels in the admissions building, because that was the mascot. So perhaps you can find a college or school that has a rhino as a mascot. Googling, the Taft School in Connecticut is one. Perhaps they’d like the collection?
3 super sized Home Depot tubs. I think it would cost hundreds!! But I will keep it in mind, end up the sa,me as shipping to some auction winner. Hmmmm, I mean there are A LOT!!
And I donate to The Rhino Orphange, among other groups. But, man, you sure you’d wanna take on a massive project like that??
It’s funny how shit like this takes a life of its own. It makes for lazy, thoughtless gift giving. Oh, I’ll just get him or her a(nother) stuffed rhino.
My friend’s mom had watermelon art and trinkets all over her kitchen. She finally had to tell everyone “no more”. For one of my co-workers it was unicorns. Twelve year old girls like unicorns. 32 year old engineers don’t need another cheesy blown glass unicorn.
For some reason when I was a kid, people thought that I wanted owls. I happen to like owls but I don’t want owl knickknacks. I have always been a minimalist and I don’t want clutter. Luckily it stopped when I went away to school. They went into box with the rest of my childhood crap and were eventually disposed of with the other childhood crap.
I love the sending them as mascots to a school- cool idea. If you have a bunch of little ones, take them with you to a zoo and hand them out to the kids. Explain your story to their parents (and maybe the front desk ahead of time)- but quite simply you are passing along your love of rhinos (and animals) to another generation! You should see their happy faces and imagination race.
Back in a park in NYC, my 1.5 year old met an old australian shepherd, named Westy. And we saw Westy almost every day in the park for 6 months. Westy’s owner had grandchildren who were the basis for getting Westy but now they had aged and were busy. Westy liked fetching for my little one because the ball only went a couple of feet. We didn’t see Westy for a couple of weeks when we finally saw the owner walking alone through the park. I, unfortunately, knew what had happened but my daughter immediately piped up “Where is Westy?” He pulled a small stuffed australian shepherd from his coat pocket and said that he "shrunk Westy so he could fit in our stroller and go home with us. My daughter was so excited and we still have stuffed Westy over a decade later- and Westy is in the going-to-college shortlist. So if you have a chance, personally go and talk to some young people about rhinos and why they are your favorite and pass one along. You’ll inspire and inform someone new!
