This morning I went to breakfast at Cracker Barrel with some friends who were on their way out of town. In the “country store” area they had these fake pets that look pretty lifelike and “breathe” as they “sleep” in their little baskets. I’ve seen these things before, and I always have to walk away, because they’re so pathetic it makes me sad.

The copy on the website says “Perfect Petzzz are cute sleeping puppies and kittens that offer unconditional love and are maintenance-free.”

I can’t help imagining some elderly lady who’s lonely and needs a companion, but can’t have a real pet because she’s too stiff to care for one or too poor to feed it, and her grandchildren who can’t be bothered to keep her company themselves buy her one of these things so she can try to pretend that she’s getting unconditional love from this pet that never ever wakes up. Gah, it’s so sad.

(As if my imagined pathos weren’t bad enough, I had to go read the testimonials at that website. Don’t do it.)

Posted by Amanda in General |