Piñata of Family Pet Surprisingly Traumatic for Child
AUSTIN, TX — A birthday party for 8-year-old Mason Burke took an unexpected turn Saturday after a papier-mâché piñata modeled after the family’s dog, Buddy, left the boy screaming, crying, and questioning whether his classmates had just committed a felony.
Party guests say the piñata, which was meant to be a whimsical nod to Buddy’s “big floppy ears and goofy smile,” quickly turned into something far more disturbing when the blindfold came off and Mason realized he was holding a baseball bat while a papier-mâché version of his best friend dangled helplessly from a tree branch.
“He whispered, ‘Why are you making me kill Buddy?’” said one horrified aunt. “But by then the other kids were already chanting, ‘Hit the dog! Hit the dog!’ like some kind of satanic pep rally.”
Parents Defend Their Choice
Mason’s parents insist the piñata was never meant to cause harm.
“We thought it would be adorable,” explained Mason’s mother, adding that the resemblance was “maybe a little too lifelike.” “We figured it would teach him about celebration and sharing. Instead, it taught him about betrayal and violence against animals.”
Even after Mason refused to swing, several classmates eagerly stepped in, ripping open Buddy’s papier-mâché ribcage until candy poured out in what witnesses described as “a cheerful yet grisly scene.”
Experts Weigh In
Child psychologist Dr. Henry Lowell confirmed that, while birthday piñatas are typically harmless, “forcing children to beat a hollow replica of a beloved pet with a stick until it bursts open is a textbook way to introduce long-lasting trauma.”
“Some kids process it fine,” Lowell noted. “Others spend the rest of their lives associating Tootsie Rolls with the sound of splintering bones.”
Aftermath
Buddy the actual dog reportedly sat on the porch throughout the event, watching in silent horror as his papier-mâché doppelgänger was dismembered. Sources say Mason now refuses to pet Buddy, insisting “he might be full of Skittles.”