My mom never let me have a pet. She would complain about how they would ruin the house, or there would be a slight "pet" odour. Regardless of what she said i continued to beg her for a pet of any kind. I did have fish as a child but she complained that she was the one who'd always take care of them. Finally she rellented but all she allowed me to get were some more fish. Now don't get me wrong, i got two male bettas and loved them as much as u can love fish. Jippy was the more spirited of the two and would flare up at anything. Being so he got the bigger bowl. Jengo was quite shy in his smaller bowl and would only flare up when the two bowl were put next to each other. After having my fish for about 2 months my mom surprisingly allowed me to get a hamster. I eagerly went to the pet store and bought an adorable 8 week old, female, albino, Syrian Teddy bear hamster. She was named zoe. Everyone loved her red "devil eyes" and the devil she was. She could escape any faulty spot in her assembly of 5 cages and various tubes. She could even pull apart a tube from it's cage id it wasn't attached properly. During her lifetime of 4 years she was able to escape a total of 8 times! I loved my little houdini. But she wasn't all bad. She was extremly well mannered and would eagerly jump on to my hand whenever i put it in a cage. To my and everyone else's surprise she would even come when called! An excellent aspect to have when she entered into the hamster races. Zoe was also my "tv buddy." As i'd watch my fav tunes, she would snugle undermy chin and fall asleep. She never soiled on anybody and never bit. After my mom once again relented and allowed me to get Oceano, my beautiful Siberian Husky, my fish died. I sat with a heavy heart but they really only were fish. My greatest grief came when zoe passed a week after them at the ripe old age of 4 years and 3 months. Now i'm working with OC as a therapeutic dog, i take him to hospitals, although this SARS thing has set back our schedual, and i also take him to phsychiatrists where he can make a break through with a kid in less then 2 hrs where 2 years of confrontation couldn't. All of my pets have brought joy to everyone, especially me. Jippy and Jengo were the class fish for a month, Zoe would visit my friends when they were ill (obediantly sitting on my shoulder or in my pocket), and now OC shares his smile and the wag of his tail to those who feel have been shut out from this world. I hope to continue working with therapy animals because although they r the one who do the work and get the crdeit, it still warms my heart when my babies make a difference in peoples lives. I luv u 3 who have passed into the meadow to join my previous childhood fish. I luv u OC, the only puppy i kno who will actually wait while the elderly find that special treat they've hidden for u!