We just fed one of the neighbourhood dogs as he happened by the gate. He relies on the kindness of strangers. In return, he provides protection and entertainment. He also provides us with that warm feeling when giving charity. In the photo above he was resting in our garden at the beginning of the year.
Strangely, I happened upon a very old blog entry today. It too contained a pet. In Canada we've had a number of hamsters as pets because they are quite easy to take care of. Obviously, they can be quite portable too.