My History Of Small Pet Fails
In kindergarten the class pet was a Corn Snake named Fiddlesticks. Every
Friday we would gather around in a circle on the rug and watch Linda (teacher)
feed the snake a whole frozen rat. Then for the next week the rat would make
its way slowly down the snake. A substitute teacher once had to feed the snake,
and I think she was quite distressed about it, so she told a student to go
fetch the rat from the teacher’s fridge. There is a legend that the rat ended
up exploding in the microwave…
In kindergarten the class pet was a Corn Snake named Fiddlesticks. Every
Friday we would gather around in a circle on the rug and watch Linda (teacher)
feed the snake a whole frozen rat. Then for the next week the rat would make
its way slowly down the snake. A substitute teacher once had to feed the snake,
and I think she was quite distressed about it, so she told a student to go
fetch the rat from the teacher’s fridge. There is a legend that the rat ended
up exploding in the microwave…
In kindergarten the class pet was a Corn Snake named Fiddlesticks. Every
Friday we would gather around in a circle on the rug and watch Linda (teacher)
feed the snake a whole frozen rat. Then for the next week the rat would make
its way slowly down the snake. A substitute teacher once had to feed the snake,
and I think she was quite distressed about it, so she told a student to go
fetch the rat from the teacher’s fridge. There is a legend that the rat ended
up exploding in the microwave…
This is my history of miscellaneous small pets, and what went wrong. I
don’t mean to say that all the pets I’ve ever had have gone haywire. The first
family pet was a morose poodle named Paco who would turn and walk away when you
called his name or showed affection, but then would be quick to take a small
child flying a kite down to the ground or tear up a baseball. We now have a
small black Mexican mutt named Ziggy, a loveable yet feisty dog who loves to
run around and wrestle with his “babies” (stuffed animals). Between the few
major family pets we’ve had; I’ve had quite a menagerie of smaller pets.
Unfortunately it seems they have all been destined to fail.
This is my history of miscellaneous small pets, and what went wrong. I
don’t mean to say that all the pets I’ve ever had have gone haywire. The first
family pet was a morose poodle named Paco who would turn and walk away when you
called his name or showed affection, but then would be quick to take a small
child flying a kite down to the ground or tear up a baseball. We now have a
small black Mexican mutt named Ziggy, a loveable yet feisty dog who loves to
run around and wrestle with his “babies” (stuffed animals). Between the few
major family pets we’ve had; I’ve had quite a menagerie of smaller pets.
Unfortunately it seems they have all been destined to fail.
This is my history of miscellaneous small pets, and what went wrong. I
don’t mean to say that all the pets I’ve ever had have gone haywire. The first
family pet was a morose poodle named Paco who would turn and walk away when you
called his name or showed affection, but then would be quick to take a small
child flying a kite down to the ground or tear up a baseball. We now have a
small black Mexican mutt named Ziggy, a loveable yet feisty dog who loves to
run around and wrestle with his “babies” (stuffed animals). Between the few
major family pets we’ve had; I’ve had quite a menagerie of smaller pets.
Unfortunately it seems they have all been destined to fail.
I’ve always loved the idea of having a pet of my own, so when I’d walk
into a pet shop or a street market selling animals I would be drawn to the
small critters, and then it would only be minutes until I was begging my
parents to let me take one home. It would be a rush of excitement bringing the
pet home and setting up its cage, feeding it, and tending to it… well for about
week, then the charm wore off and my attention and attentiveness would ware
off. Then my dad would begrudgingly yet graciously take over the daily care of
the animal.
I’ve always loved the idea of having a pet of my own, so when I’d walk
into a pet shop or a street market selling animals I would be drawn to the
small critters, and then it would only be minutes until I was begging my
parents to let me take one home. It would be a rush of excitement bringing the
pet home and setting up its cage, feeding it, and tending to it… well for about
week, then the charm wore off and my attention and attentiveness would ware
off. Then my dad would begrudgingly yet graciously take over the daily care of
the animal.
I’ve always loved the idea of having a pet of my own, so when I’d walk
into a pet shop or a street market selling animals I would be drawn to the
small critters, and then it would only be minutes until I was begging my
parents to let me take one home. It would be a rush of excitement bringing the
pet home and setting up its cage, feeding it, and tending to it… well for about
week, then the charm wore off and my attention and attentiveness would ware
off. Then my dad would begrudgingly yet graciously take over the daily care of
the animal.
It all started with stick bugs
in Seattle. I think they were a prop for a photo shoot that my mom was
pressured into taking back home for us (well me). Let me tell you, it’s quite
hard to play with a stick bug: impossible even. So we would watch the lanky
bugs climb up the glass walls of their 3x2 foot enclosure. One day though, as
we sat watching, a stick bug crawled its way up the class towards its fellow
bug, and inched its way right beside it. Then out of nowhere, CHOMP. The bigger
bug had taken a chunk (bite) right out of the smaller one! Holy moly. From
there on out, for the next week or so, it was a cannibal’s scene in that small
glass tank. Finally we decided it would be best to let them go free in the
wilderness of Discovery Park. Bye bye bugs!
It all started with stick bugs
in Seattle. I think they were a prop for a photo shoot that my mom was
pressured into taking back home for us (well me). Let me tell you, it’s quite
hard to play with a stick bug: impossible even. So we would watch the lanky
bugs climb up the glass walls of their 3x2 foot enclosure. One day though, as
we sat watching, a stick bug crawled its way up the class towards its fellow
bug, and inched its way right beside it. Then out of nowhere, CHOMP. The bigger
bug had taken a chunk (bite) right out of the smaller one! Holy moly. From
there on out, for the next week or so, it was a cannibal’s scene in that small
glass tank. Finally we decided it would be best to let them go free in the
wilderness of Discovery Park. Bye bye bugs!
It all started with stick bugs
in Seattle. I think they were a prop for a photo shoot that my mom was
pressured into taking back home for us (well me). Let me tell you, it’s quite
hard to play with a stick bug: impossible even. So we would watch the lanky
bugs climb up the glass walls of their 3x2 foot enclosure. One day though, as
we sat watching, a stick bug crawled its way up the class towards its fellow
bug, and inched its way right beside it. Then out of nowhere, CHOMP. The bigger
bug had taken a chunk (bite) right out of the smaller one! Holy moly. From
there on out, for the next week or so, it was a cannibal’s scene in that small
glass tank. Finally we decided it would be best to let them go free in the
wilderness of Discovery Park. Bye bye bugs!
The next pet came in the form
of a surprise birthday present. Two dwarf hamsters, one black and one white;
Salt and Pepper they were named. Small and furry, cute and quick, sharped
toothed and masters of escape. You couldn’t take them out of their cage without
ending up with multiple lacerations on your hands and arms. Their pee and poo
stank and they cage was gross to clean. Pepper was the mischievous of the pair.
He escaped in the middle of the night and roamed our house for a month on his
own, without us finding him, except for in the middle of the night when he’d
dash across my dad’s foot at the 2am bathroom expedition. EEEEK! We quickly
gave this duo of trouble to some unsuspecting family from Olympia.
The next pet came in the form
of a surprise birthday present. Two dwarf hamsters, one black and one white;
Salt and Pepper they were named. Small and furry, cute and quick, sharped
toothed and masters of escape. You couldn’t take them out of their cage without
ending up with multiple lacerations on your hands and arms. Their pee and poo
stank and they cage was gross to clean. Pepper was the mischievous of the pair.
He escaped in the middle of the night and roamed our house for a month on his
own, without us finding him, except for in the middle of the night when he’d
dash across my dad’s foot at the 2am bathroom expedition. EEEEK! We quickly
gave this duo of trouble to some unsuspecting family from Olympia.
The next pet came in the form
of a surprise birthday present. Two dwarf hamsters, one black and one white;
Salt and Pepper they were named. Small and furry, cute and quick, sharped
toothed and masters of escape. You couldn’t take them out of their cage without
ending up with multiple lacerations on your hands and arms. Their pee and poo
stank and they cage was gross to clean. Pepper was the mischievous of the pair.
He escaped in the middle of the night and roamed our house for a month on his
own, without us finding him, except for in the middle of the night when he’d
dash across my dad’s foot at the 2am bathroom expedition. EEEEK! We quickly
gave this duo of trouble to some unsuspecting family from Olympia.
Following this came the
aquatic dwelling creatures. These included a pair of turtles from the La Penita
Market, a fat goldfish name Potato/Scar/Fredrick (an ever-changing name), and
Sea-monkeys grown from a package of chemically produced powder. I remember
walking into the crowded and sweaty market in La Penita and seeing a tank full
of tiny turtles. All climbing around in a plastic roofless tank containing a
small plastic palm tree planted on a plastic island. The turtles climbed on top
of each other to reach the island. “Give me two of those!” Now that I remember,
my mom used to have these types of turtles as child, but I think they are now
outlawed in the States (for ethical reasons). The turtles lived somewhat
happily outside on the porch in their plastic walled habitat with the plastic palm
tree. One day we came home and the boss turtle had sat on the other turtle and
drowned it. Oops. Later, during the big flood in Sayulita, the second turtle
was washed away down the river. Finally getting the freedom it so much desired.
Following this came the
aquatic dwelling creatures. These included a pair of turtles from the La Penita
Market, a fat goldfish name Potato/Scar/Fredrick (an ever-changing name), and
Sea-monkeys grown from a package of chemically produced powder. I remember
walking into the crowded and sweaty market in La Penita and seeing a tank full
of tiny turtles. All climbing around in a plastic roofless tank containing a
small plastic palm tree planted on a plastic island. The turtles climbed on top
of each other to reach the island. “Give me two of those!” Now that I remember,
my mom used to have these types of turtles as child, but I think they are now
outlawed in the States (for ethical reasons). The turtles lived somewhat
happily outside on the porch in their plastic walled habitat with the plastic palm
tree. One day we came home and the boss turtle had sat on the other turtle and
drowned it. Oops. Later, during the big flood in Sayulita, the second turtle
was washed away down the river. Finally getting the freedom it so much desired.
Following this came the
aquatic dwelling creatures. These included a pair of turtles from the La Penita
Market, a fat goldfish name Potato/Scar/Fredrick (an ever-changing name), and
Sea-monkeys grown from a package of chemically produced powder. I remember
walking into the crowded and sweaty market in La Penita and seeing a tank full
of tiny turtles. All climbing around in a plastic roofless tank containing a
small plastic palm tree planted on a plastic island. The turtles climbed on top
of each other to reach the island. “Give me two of those!” Now that I remember,
my mom used to have these types of turtles as child, but I think they are now
outlawed in the States (for ethical reasons). The turtles lived somewhat
happily outside on the porch in their plastic walled habitat with the plastic palm
tree. One day we came home and the boss turtle had sat on the other turtle and
drowned it. Oops. Later, during the big flood in Sayulita, the second turtle
was washed away down the river. Finally getting the freedom it so much desired.
The sea monkeys and the goldfish met the same dreadful end, down the
toilet a pretty nice funeral farewell for an animal with a brain smaller than a
grain of rice.
The sea monkeys and the goldfish met the same dreadful end, down the
toilet a pretty nice funeral farewell for an animal with a brain smaller than a
grain of rice.
The sea monkeys and the goldfish met the same dreadful end, down the
toilet a pretty nice funeral farewell for an animal with a brain smaller than a
grain of rice.
A worm farm with a few sporadic rollie-poley bugs festered in a bucket in
the backyard, until being washed away in the rain, or being squished on a hot
day. Insects just aren’t my thing.
A worm farm with a few sporadic rollie-poley bugs festered in a bucket in
the backyard, until being washed away in the rain, or being squished on a hot
day. Insects just aren’t my thing.
A worm farm with a few sporadic rollie-poley bugs festered in a bucket in
the backyard, until being washed away in the rain, or being squished on a hot
day. Insects just aren’t my thing.
The last disastrous pet was a
pair of budgie birds (parakeets). The names do not come to the top of my mind, only
their dreadful end. We drove all the way back from Guadalajara with squawking
parakeets in a cage, being bumped around in a barred coop. The leader bird was
vicious and overly loud, while the other was more docile and slow. Teaching
these birds tricks was nearly impossible, though one could ride a mini skateboard
when pushed. The first bird had to go, and was promptly given away to a friend
due to continuous pecks that drew blood. The second one, well, the end was
different.
The last disastrous pet was a
pair of budgie birds (parakeets). The names do not come to the top of my mind, only
their dreadful end. We drove all the way back from Guadalajara with squawking
parakeets in a cage, being bumped around in a barred coop. The leader bird was
vicious and overly loud, while the other was more docile and slow. Teaching
these birds tricks was nearly impossible, though one could ride a mini skateboard
when pushed. The first bird had to go, and was promptly given away to a friend
due to continuous pecks that drew blood. The second one, well, the end was
different.
The last disastrous pet was a
pair of budgie birds (parakeets). The names do not come to the top of my mind, only
their dreadful end. We drove all the way back from Guadalajara with squawking
parakeets in a cage, being bumped around in a barred coop. The leader bird was
vicious and overly loud, while the other was more docile and slow. Teaching
these birds tricks was nearly impossible, though one could ride a mini skateboard
when pushed. The first bird had to go, and was promptly given away to a friend
due to continuous pecks that drew blood. The second one, well, the end was
different.
I came walking up the stairs
to our porch one day and the cage, which was usually covered in poop and
birdseed, was clean and empty. No squawking bird in sight.
I came walking up the stairs
to our porch one day and the cage, which was usually covered in poop and
birdseed, was clean and empty. No squawking bird in sight.
I came walking up the stairs
to our porch one day and the cage, which was usually covered in poop and
birdseed, was clean and empty. No squawking bird in sight.
“Hmm? Where’d it go?
“Hmm? Where’d it go?
“Hmm? Where’d it go?
“Oh, a wild cat dragged it off.”
“Oh, a wild cat dragged it off.”
“Oh, a wild cat dragged it off.”
And that was the end of it, or so I
thought…
And that was the end of it, or so I
thought…
And that was the end of it, or so I
thought…
Later my dad informed me that he had
woke up early and walked upstairs to find the bird ripped in half, with its
head torn off; blood and feathers all over. He threw it to the empty lot next
door, atop of our makeshift compost pile. A wild cat had gotten its paw in the
cage and had some “fun” with it.
Later my dad informed me that he had
woke up early and walked upstairs to find the bird ripped in half, with its
head torn off; blood and feathers all over. He threw it to the empty lot next
door, atop of our makeshift compost pile. A wild cat had gotten its paw in the
cage and had some “fun” with it.
Later my dad informed me that he had
woke up early and walked upstairs to find the bird ripped in half, with its
head torn off; blood and feathers all over. He threw it to the empty lot next
door, atop of our makeshift compost pile. A wild cat had gotten its paw in the
cage and had some “fun” with it.
Well that sums up my history of
small pet fails. A small graveyard could be built in memory of Jade’s animal
fails.
Well that sums up my history of
small pet fails. A small graveyard could be built in memory of Jade’s animal
fails.
Well that sums up my history of
small pet fails. A small graveyard could be built in memory of Jade’s animal
fails.
R.I.P little pets.
R.I.P little pets.
R.I.P little pets.
