ANCHORAGE, Alaska — If you’re feeling a bit spiteful this Valentine’s Day, you might consider channelling those emotions into a wry form of tribute to your former partner. Many shelters and zoos across the nation are providing unique and amusing fundraising opportunities for individuals looking to vent their frustrations while supporting a good cause.
These initiatives range from the whimsical to the outright hilarious, encouraging participants to commemorate their exes with unconventional tokens. For instance, individuals can choose to name a feral cat after an old flame and subsequently have it neutered, or even bestow the name of a former lover upon rodents or cockroaches that will be fed to larger animals. The Minnesota Zoo, in particular, has seen a global response to their campaign, allowing people to name bugs in honor of friends or foes alike.
In Poulsbo, Washington, Teri Scott found herself captivated by the buzz on social media about these playful anti-love campaigns, which included the opportunity to name a hissing cockroach after an ex-partner. However, she hesitated at the idea, wary that naming a bug notorious for its resilience could symbolize an omen, implying that her former husband might always linger in her life, despite the legal costs she bore to end their marriage.
Ultimately, Scott discovered a promotion for the “Love Hurts” fundraiser at Anchorage’s Bird Treatment and Learning Center, where she decided to contribute $100 to name a frozen rat after her ex. This rat would then become a meal for a raptor housed at the center. Celebrating her first anniversary as a newly single woman, Scott viewed this quirky gesture as a meaningful treat for herself.
“You never enter a relationship anticipating its demise, yet when it does, it can be deeply painful,” Scott explained. “I thought this could be a wonderful way to commemorate my journey.” She expressed delight upon encountering the “Love Hurts” campaign, finding it to be a delightful form of giving back.
Laura Atwood, the executive director of the Bird Treatment and Learning Center, emphasized the lighthearted spirit behind the initiative, highlighting that the money raised goes towards staff salaries and maintaining the care of birds—580 were successfully rehabilitated the previous year. By the time the fundraiser concluded, they had amassed over $18,000. The demand was so high for the program that they temporarily ran out of frozen rats until a fresh supply arrived.
“This offers individuals a playful outlet to process their feelings regarding relational hurt,” Atwood remarked, highlighting that last names are kept confidential for privacy reasons. Donors have the option to receive videos of raptors, such as Ghost, a snowy owl that devours the rat in one bite, or Breland, a peregrine falcon that skillfully tears apart its meal.
For those with tighter budgets, a $10 option allows people to name mealworms after their exes, which will later become a meal for crows or magpies, with proof of the act shared online.
Meanwhile, the Memphis Zoo in Tennessee introduces its own intriguing twist with a “Dating or Dumping” campaign. For $10, participants can choose to name a rodent after a cherished partner or a bitter adversary. If they choose the latter, their experience comes accompanied by a cheeky video showing an elephant defecating, along with a digital card inscribed with the phrase “Scent with Love.” In contrast, lovebirds can opt for a heartwarming digital card and a video of a red panda delightfully munching on a grape.
As Valentine’s Day wraps up, the Memphis Zoo plans to release a video montage showcasing the names of individuals who were honored through their initiative and will highlight the most frequently submitted names, both from the affectionate and the not-so-fond participants.
“This is just fantastic!” Caleigh Johnson shared while actively rallying her friends to name her ex-boyfriend, hoping he secures a top spot on the less flattering list. “It will at least bring some laughter to our Galentine’s Day gathering, even if I don’t talk to him anymore.”
