My Piglet’s So Cute, You Want One, Too? First, Add 100 Pounds and $100k.

Peppercorn the potbellied piglet, all 12 pounds of him, came into my life squealing one April afternoon about five years ago. He was skittish and jumpy, obstinate and forever hungry--and really, really tiny. It was love at first oink.

Here’s Why Trademarked Glowing Fish Aren’t Such a Bright Idea

Saltwater aquariums, though prized for their glorious colors and living reefs, are a massive undertaking. And the havoc the exotic fish trade wreaks on tropical sea life is no secret. But for people who are itching to adorn their homes with vibrant fish, science came up with an easy solution: fluorescent freshwater fish. And the pet industry lapped it up--but at what cost?

The Red-Eyed Rat Who Stole My Heart

In 2003, when I was 15, I screen-printed a t-shirt with a photo of my albino rat, Hammy, and paraded it around school. The other kids laughed, but I wasn't fazed. I'd made a best friend--one who was a whole lot more loyal, and maybe even a little smarter, than my classmates. It was February … Continue reading The Red-Eyed Rat Who Stole My Heart

When the Wedding Favors Have Fins

White linens lined the tables, and Barbra Streisand's voice filled the air. The banquet hall oozed with love. We paid our respects to the bright-eyed newlyweds and took our seats. And that's when I first saw him. The glass vase, the centerpiece of it all, confined not flowers, but fins. There he swam, in endless circles, … Continue reading When the Wedding Favors Have Fins