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Weird Pets

Date: Nov 27 2009

Themes: Pets

Grammar: Past Progressive Tense

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Intro

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Frogs don’t cuddle, and fish aren’t much fun to play with. But some people still keep them as pets. Cats and dogs may win the cuteness contest, but if you prefer rough scales and creepy claws to soft fur and wagging tails, then maybe a gecko or iguana would make a better companion for you.

Mason had dogs and cats when he was a kid, but Devan’s taste in pets was less conventional. Find out what kind of animal she had growing up, and listen to her and Mason talk about weird pets.

Dialog

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Devan

Mason

Devan: Did you have normal pets growing up Mason, like a cat and a dog?

Mason: I had cats and dogs. I’ve got a bunny now, which is a little out of the ordinary, but not that far.

Devan: At least a bunny’s still huggable though. When I was growing up the only pet I ever had was pet turtles.

Mason: Really? Why did you have a turtle?

Devan: I just really liked turtles, and I thought they were really interesting. But it’s funny, I kept buying turtles and they kept crawling out of my garden and escaping to freedom, and I realized that turtles aren’t exactly a loving pet. It’s kind of a weird pet to have, you know?

Mason: Yeah, I mean, there’s just plenty of things that you keep in like cages and cases and whatnot that don’t do anything, like a spider. Why would you have a pet spider?

Devan: People have all sorts of scaly, creepy pets in tanks and aquariums, and it’s like, is that really a pet or is that decoration?

Mason: It’s more decoration. I think that’s an excellent way of putting it.

Devan: Even just having a fish in a fish bowl, I feel like that’s more to suit the feng shui of your house than something that you’re gonna love and play with.

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Discussion

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When he was a kid, Mason had conventional pets, dogs and cats. Now he has a bunny, which is less common. But as Devan points out, you can still hug and pet a bunny. So it’s not really a weird pet.

Devan had turtles when she was growing up. She couldn’t cuddle with them, but she thought they were interesting. The turtles kept running away, though, so Devan thinks they weren’t really suited to be kept as pets.

Some people like to keep weird animals, like spiders, lizards, or snakes, as pets. Devan thinks that the point of having pets like these is just to look at them. So they’re more like decoration than pets.

What’s the weirdest pet you’ve ever had? Do you know anyone with a weird pet? Why do you think people like to keep animals like spiders and snakes?

Comments

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chrystallovely

China

I do not like weired pets!!

I like only dogs !!

Ca_Brazil

Brazil

Maybe some people identify more with weird pets, i just think if someone wants a pet conventional or not, should take care of it.

aalerta23

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

hi friends ,i love chikens and ducks , i had more when was child:).i had more chiken that growed up and gave me eggs .and this pictures is real picture with a child tigger in thiland when i took a trip therer , realy i have scaried when i took picture …..but i think the first animal in beautiful is tigger and i love it.

Shugopy

Paraguay

I like your way of seeing things Nathan, I had not thought.

Nathan

United States

As some have said I do not feel that those who keep weird pets have a mental issue. Some people simply have a fascination with the animals behavior and biology. I keep several scorpions and a snake because I study them, I have a great interest in their biology..

Shugopy

Paraguay

I had a turtle, (also a rabbit, two parrots, four hamsters, eight canaries, five dogs, two cats and a iguana) for me wasn't a weir pet… I think a weir pet is something like a snake or a spider, I mean something more dangerous. My turtle just used to bite sometimes lol Even my hamster was more dangerous! I hate hamsters! I think somepeople like to keep animals like spiders and snakes because they feel more interesting and cool with them.

Yasminne_15

Venezuela

(Y)

sveta1209

Taiwan

How to play with a turtle? I had a turtle before, but it just was put in an aquarium. I don't know how to play with a turtle. It is not huggable, and I suspect that it can understand what what do I say.

bienemaja

Andorra

I prefer the " normal" pets to the weird ones.

I like cats, especially russian blue.they are so nice…

shadows goldsmith

Syrian Arab Republic

Do you know my dearest it's one from more ancient animals in the world this lizard what you are talk about it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

leeme

Thailand

When I was young. I had a gibbon. I cried all night when my dad decided to give my pet to the zoo. Finally, I knew that is a good decision for me and her.

Darung

Cambodia

lolz…Dogs rock….

Belle~

China

whatever,i strongly object to eating dogs.they are so huggable..

Julie3

Russian Federation

Turtles are not exotic at all. May be spiders, lizards, silkworms ….yes…snakes…I think people keep such pets only cuz they love to be admired and being out of ordinary. Many people had or have cats, dogs or hamsters so they don't want to be the same. Something wrong with their inside world.
I love animals and take care of them. They teach us to be friendly and kind.

trongdu

Germany

my family have two dogs and three cats. But we don't think it pet. we are raising it for take home. In my country the dog meat very special. when i was child i usually to eat the dog meat. It's very good. I think so. you known do not eat dog meat is another life lost heheh

Belle~

China

i love animals!well,when i was growing up,i had two dogs,two cats,three chickens,four ducks,two mynas,three parrots,four silkworms,two moles,and a rabbit..i kept them in different periods,of course.i think silkworms were the weirdest pet i have ever had.ha~!but now,i just have a dog.

nickyfat

China

Well, I must say I am not a pet person, I don't feed things, living things, dogs cats blah blah blah, not to mention weird pets. It's not that I don't like them, but I don't have time and room for them, I love dogs and cats, but I am not into weird pets,like a frog or spider or something the like, they're way too creepy and gross to keep as pets, so if someone asks me if I want to keep a lizard as a pet, for instance, I would say no. No offence to those who are crazy about weird pets.

Olga_orc

Ukraine

but, Lineth, how you care for all of them? or you have someone who help you? I like animals too, and sometimes want to get them to my home, but its impossible.

noguti

Brazil

actually I don't own any pet…. But I guess it's awesome, specially when you live alone, 'cuz your pet can make you company.

I've never seen anyone growing an exotic pet, anyway. I'd like to know what these people keep in mind to do that.. :P

Zambuka

United States

lizards, spiders, turtles…. having such pets is really weird… why not have a bunny, cat, parrot, humster…they can comfort you)) but cold blooded lizards… come on… they are disgusting!!!!!