Rescued Pets are Always Best

Rescued animals make the best pets. They are the most appreciative and grateful--until you bring them home.

Xena was rescued from the shelter, and Mowis was rescued from my mom's shed and a life on the street. This is how they repayed me: ripping the arm of the couch, marking the carpet, shredding my homework, biting my ankle, waking me up at five in the morning, and tearing up the carpet.

Mowis seems to forget he was born under a shed and Xena doesn't realize how close she may have come to euthanasia. She may even have forgotten she came from a shelter where she lived in a crowded cage with three brothers. Her actions would quickly reunite her with the shelter if she had been adopted by anyone else.

Mowis and Xena are brats at times, but I think they are very grateful we adopted them. If nothing else, even if they don't, I feel good knowing I rescued them and gave them a life they could have no other way.

My new "pet"

Animal neglect is a serious crime. But so far, I've faithfully fed, cleaned, and played with Pookie--at the expense of my real pets who have licked their water dish dry and whose litter box stench reaches space.

No, Pookie is not imaginary; nor is she a pet rock (I wish I could have jumped on that money-making scheme.). She is my virtual pet in Pet Society, a game by playfish that I found on Facebook. I usually don't embrace the same things as mainstream pop culture, but the addictive quality of this game as well as the cute animal appeal lurred me in.

So, why am I ignoring my real pets for Pookie? Well, Pookie doesn't mind when I dress her in people clothes. Mowis didn't even like when I put a bow tie around his neck. She can also drink margaritas and play the guitar. Also, when she poops, I don't have to smell it.

I'll admit I'm pathetically addicted to the game. It's sort of Simsesque. I love games like this where I can earn money, design characters, and remodel a house. Not to mention the rewarding/guilty feeling of dragging my friends into my addiction.

For those of you who are thinking about reporting me to the Humane Society, I do feed my cats--just not when I'm racing on Pet Society.