It's prime season for weddings, graduations, showers and family reunions. But some of these memory-making moments include staged "send-offs" that come at a hidden cost. Behind every butterfly and dove release is an animal who was bred, shipped, confined and treated like a disposable party favor. For many, the celebration ends in injury, starvation, or death.

Animals aren't decorations, centerpieces or ornaments. They're living beings, not extras in someone else's special day.

Companies that sell butterflies treat them as replaceable merchandise. These fragile insects are stuffed into envelopes, where they remain during shipping and right up until they're released. Many guests are horrified to find only corpses.

Some companies offer refunds if butterflies arrive........

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