For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for March 20, 2013

That should work.When I was in second grade, One of my friends and I put a bird cage near the neighbor’s feeder with a seed trail to it.We caught a crested flycatcher. Of course, We got in a bit of trouble for it because you can’t keep wild birds…but at 7, we didn’t know that.

Something tells me Michael doesn’t have any pet hamsters in his future.

And the moral of the story is never, ever volunteer to take care of the class pet.

Who’s idea was the pop up add? Take them out and……

Watch out for… Inspector Gaget

Hope he isn’t using the hamster food as a bait trail. That’s just ordinary food. The hamster wants something special or it won’t bother. My rats are trained to come back to their cage for a treat when I ring their bell. Sometimes they ring it themselves and expect a treat! I don’t suppose hamsters are that smart.

Where’s Farley???

At least it’s not dead yet. Lost, but not dead.

Is John squinting?

I don’t know about being smart. We had one that figured out how to push the lid up on his cage. We finally had to duct tape it shut. and just take the whole top off when we needed to change the cage.

At least Dad is trying!

When I was a kid our hamster got out of the cage. But during the night my Dad heard some scratching, It was the hamster attracted to the cedar chest in my parents’ room. He reached his hand down, the hamster walked into it, and Dad brought him back to his cage.

I hope they get Humphrey back safe and sound . . . then forbid Michael from bringing him (or any other rodent like it) home ever again. He’s just not old enough for this kind of responsibility — and this experience proves it.

It’s great when the artist likes what they’ve done.

As I said a few days ago, mine didn’t come back for the food, he came back to play on his wheel!

When I taught 4th grade, we had a hamster who kept escaping at night. I finally figured out that if I put the cage on the floor, I’d find him in there sleeping every morning after his nocturnal wanderings.

Rats would be better pets for schools than hamsters. hamsters are nocturnal and tend to bite and rats are very social with their natural charm and good looks. Of course they need to be 2 of them, being social.They are far less likely to bite and do not carry rabies or much of anything, plus they don’t have any odor, being such clean animals. They wash more than a cat. Any pet needs to be candled with love and care so as not to hurt them or make them fearful.