Ya know, when your kid's pet is dying and your kid's heart is breaking, there's not much you won't do...
You should see the elaborate coffins that my daughter's gerbils are buried in. hehehe
It is true we do things for our kids and ourselves when a much loved pet passes away or is lost..but to make this a highlight in a speech...well it leaves Kerry open to some fun being poked at him. Vanessa's rendition of her conversation with her dad when she was unhappy about something when she was 19 was more impressive than CPR to a hamster...perhaps he should have taken time to explain why taking a little hamster on such an aquatic trip could endanger the little critter's health.