On Thu, 05 Feb 2004 17:55:51 -0800 (PST), you wrote: > > >On Thu, 5 Feb 2004, Damien Sullivan wrote: > >> On Wed, Feb 04, 2004 at 06:37:36PM -0800, Philip Hart wrote: >> >> > I resist the pet idea for Ds - imagine getting a dog knowing it would >> > live not 8 years but say 8/40 years = five months. >> >> People keep pet rats, mice, crickets, and fish. Short life is not a barrier. >> It may change the dynamic, but people can keep one cuddly (or pretty) creature >> after another. > >Rats live three years or so, mice live a few years, guinea pigs five >years. I assert (no evidence) that on average people grieve more about >the loss of a burmese cat or a fox terrier than a rodent. > Depends on the person. I know our last rat's death was a blow to all of us. Surprising to me, as I've never actually gotten worked up about pets. But it could be the individual animal, as Mr Nibbles had a great personality. -- laz I am the Dread Pirate Roberts #23546. Ask me about franchise opportunities!