Webkinz Pets: All the rage

The demand for Webkinz pets is growing every day. Retailers are having a hard time keeping them on the shelves.

Most of you probably remember the Beanie Baby pandemic that lasted for years. Webkinz is on their way to similar success.

Webkinz have been around since 2005, but have recently experienced a huge increase in demand. What exactly is a Webkinz?? A Webkinz is a plush toy that has a life beyond its exterior appearance. Similar to Beanie Babies, Webkinz pets come in a variety of colors, shapes sizes and species.

Once you purchase one of these ‘pets’ you will have access to a secret code that comes with each plush toy. Each code is unique. You visit the Webkinz site and ‘adopt’ your pet using the secret code. The name and sex of the pet is designated at this time.

The Webkinz collection by Ganz includes just about every animal you can think of; cats, dogs, monkeys, frogs, horses, bears, elephants, ducks…oh my! The list is endless and new critters are still being added.

Adopting your pet is only the beginning of the fun. According to the Webkinz creators, once you have ‘adopted’ your pet in ‘Webkinz World’, you can log in and play with a virtual version of your pet. You can also design a room for your new pet. ‘KinzCash’ can be earned by playing games in the virtual arcade, competing against other players in online tournaments, and entering contests.

‘KinzCash’ can be used to purchase toys, furniture and clothing for your pet in the online ‘W Shop’. Kids can visit the site to read stories and read about daily activities.

If you are interested in adopting one of these adorable pets you can check the store locator on the Webkinz website (www.webkinz.com)

Prices start as low as $8.

Recommended age: 3-7 years.