Maureen Refior writes:

Subject: Dwarf Hamsters

I had a hamster named Emily; she wasn't a dwarf, just a plain old regular hamster (named after Emily Dickinson). She was like a little puppy to me; I'd let her out of her habitat and she'd chill on my bed, sitting in one of my pumps while I put on my makeup and got ready for work (I know - you thought I was a kid when I had her, well, no, I wasn't, I was a grown woman with a job that entailed my investing other people's money, but I digress). Emily was spoiled rotten; she ate grapes and melon and other fresh produce from Vinny's vegetable stand on Avenue B, she actually had musical preferences (Iggy and the Stooges in the mornings, a little Bowie now and again, and of course Sisters of Mercy). And she lived to be nearly six years old. I truly believe that if you raise an animal, any animal, with love, and let it live as close to its natural habitat as possible (which means letting them out of the plastic tube thing and running around, as long as there are no cats or holes in which they can get lost) they will live far longer and happier lives.

In any case, I just wanted to compliment you on your article. I love hamsters; now I want another one. Thanks a lot! (Oh - my friend Amber also had a spoiled hamster that lived to be four - his name was Fat Tony. There was good reason for the nickname and it wasn't because he was in the mob - and the "Fat" half of the name is probably the reason he didn't get to be 6, lulz).

Great work. Write more. Next time, write about Lurchers. They're dogs. Russian dogs. Thieving, sneaky, adorable, large mutts.

Gentle Breezes, Mo