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Trendy Pets
简体
Trendy Pets
时髦宠物

Learn Modal Verbs

Date: Mar 19 2012

Themes: Fashion, Pets

Grammar: Modal Verbs

Intro

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Ever since Paris Hilton was spotted with her pet chihuahua, Tinkerbell, tiny dogs have been a a trendy accessory. Some women like to carry them around and show them off like they would a designer handbag. But chihuahuas aren’t the only trendy pet. Unusual animals like goats, pot-bellied pigs, and ferrets are also surprisingly popular these days, thanks in part to celebrities. George Clooney, Victoria and David Beckham, and Harry Potter star Rupert Grint are all proud pig parents! Hear Mason and Amy talk about trendy pets.

自从帕里斯·希尔顿 (Paris Hilton) 怀抱她的名叫小叮当 (Tinkerbell) 的吉娃娃宠物狗亮相后,这种小型犬就成为宠物流行风尚。一些女士喜欢将它们带在身边,就像一款名牌手袋一样炫耀。但是,吉娃娃不是唯一的时髦宠物。最近,一些不寻常的动物,如山羊、大肚猪和雪貂也竟然都广受欢迎,这在一定程度上得益于明星效应。乔治·克鲁尼 (George Clooney)、维多利亚 (Victoria) 和大卫·贝克汉姆 (David Beckham) 以及《哈利·波特》影星鲁伯特·格林特 (Rupert Grint) 就都是宠物猪的主人!听听梅森和艾米谈论时髦宠物。

Dialog

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Mason

Mason

Amy

Amy

Mason:  I feel like sometimes people just buy animals for show, you know what I mean? Like I saw a guy walking around recently with a giant snake. And like, you didn’t really want that snake. You just wanted to be the guy who walked around with a snake.

Amy:  Right. I agree. And there are certain things that I want from a pet. I want it to cuddle me. I want it to look at me lovingly.

Mason:  Right.

Amy:  And I want it to do silly and adorable things.

Mason:  Right.

Amy:  And I’m not really sure why else you would want a pet. And I certainly don’t know why you would want things that definitely don’t do any of those things, like a goat. What is a goat gonna do but eat your trash?

Mason:  That could be an OK thing.

Amy:  I guess so. But I saw a picture the other day of a minor celebrity out with her family walking their pet goat. And I think that just has to be a trend, you know? That’s just a trendy pet. I mean, there’s no reason for a rich celebrity to have a goat.

Mason:  So is a goat…that’s like the current “it” pet? Is that right?

Amy:  Well I’ve seen a number of goats actually around my neighborhood. But I don’t know, are little annoying dogs still trendy? Like chihuahuas?

Mason:  Yes. And not only are they trendy, but you need to get special dog strollers for them, because these dogs are just too precious to walk.

Amy:  See, that brings up something else, which is I think a pet should always still be an animal. You shouldn’t try to turn a pet into your little baby.

 

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Discussion

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Mason thinks a lot of people have trendy pets that are just for show. He mentions someone he saw with a snake around his neck. Amy thinks pets should be cuddly and cute. She agrees that a snake is a strange choice for a pet.

Goats are another trendy pet, according to Amy. She saw a picture of a celebrity walking with her pet goat and has also noticed several people in her neighborhood with pet goats.

Small dogs, like chihuahas, are also trendy. Mason doesn’t like to see people pushing their small dogs in strollers. Amy agrees that a pet should be treated like an animal, not a human baby.

What pets are trendy in your country? Do you know anyone with a trendy pet? What do you think a pet should do or be used for?

 

Comments

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snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

( somebody  leash those spammers, and set all animals free!)


; (

06:24 PM Mar 19 2012 |

1 person likes this

snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

She makes animal cruelty look cool.


 

06:15 PM Mar 19 2012 |

ola33

ola33

Japan

They would sniff danger when Paris Hilton is around. Who wants to be wrapped up in a blanket… :)


I like that play dead—the first animal instinct in danger. Nice!


We spotted an unsuall beetle and started to poke it with a stick gently to move it from the road before someone steps on it. The beetle played dead. Then we stepped back and was still watching a beetle. After 7 minutes he flew away.

06:13 PM Mar 19 2012 |

1 person likes this

snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

Did she train dogs to tiptoe behind a tree  or play dead whenever Paris Hilton is around?


just teasing Tongue out

06:06 PM Mar 19 2012 |

1 person likes this

ola33

ola33

Japan

No, I used to chat a lot with a very professional dog trainer, so got something from her.

06:00 PM Mar 19 2012 |

snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

Lassie ! : )


Hey, I like walking and jogging . I’m playful and I’m  a multitasker wow, I’m in awe


are you a dog whisperer ?

05:57 PM Mar 19 2012 |

1 person likes this

ola33

ola33

Japan

Terriers in general are very playful and need a lot of activities. So, Snoopyboy, get good hiking shoes and off we go right into park catching up with our lovely pet ;)


I like Collie


05:50 PM Mar 19 2012 |

snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

Good gracious Ola33 : ) fantastic!!


 Every breed is speciall and demand a certain kind of personality. Dogs always reflect their master’s character


I love Russell Terriers, what does it say about me ?


Last time I said I liked small dogs , I got laughed at


: )

05:46 PM Mar 19 2012 |

ola33

ola33

Japan

I used to have a pet, a bizzare pet - a chipmunk! He had a name, he answerd my calling him by name, he was very affectionate that even bit me, but! I never let him devoid of his natural habitat - it was enough for him that it had been destroyed before - urban sprawl and the poor guy was living under the neighbour’s deck, but he was eating my garden veggies and fruit and every morning there were some peanuts left for him on my deck untill… First, it was a predator – another neighbor’s cat who was always on guard sitting on the fence and checking up on my lovely pet. I couldn’t do anything to shoo the cat out of my backyard - his predator’s instinct was stronger. And the final blow was, to my grief, the complete ruin of my pet’s home – the neighbor’s deck was dismantled. And now, no matter how hard I call my chipmunk - he’s not responding. Very sad. Their span life is 3 years, but they can make it to 6 years. And they’re great connoisseurs – won’t be eating anything you give them -only nuts and some grains.


The bottom line is – you get used to your pet and feel an affection to it that you probably start doing those bizzare things - to put them in stroller, dress them up. It’s all wiered though.


An animal is an animal and need a good trainer, to my mind. It’s a lot of responsibilities to train a dog, to take care of it, to be strict with it and to love it. Every breed is speciall and demand a certain kind of personality. Dogs always reflect their master’s character. A pet should be loyal to his master, respect and guard him. That’s my view of a pet.

05:41 PM Mar 19 2012 |

snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

Englishty, I’d pet a goat one hundred times before I do a boa constrictor. having a goat is like having a natural lawn mower.


:)

03:41 PM Mar 19 2012 |

snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

Pets are not pests. ; )


     A pet is a friend that is always there for you. Did you know pets don’t ask questions like, how was your day? Why are you so sad? Who is that calling you at 3 in the morning? .,Pets are therapeutic companions; they’re to fill a void of loneliness in our lives.  Pets ask questions like do you want to play? Can I have some of that food you’re eating, please? Animal lovers like to domesticate a range of animals, like monkeys, rabbits, lizards, etc. but the most common or trendy of pets are dogs( woof woof!), second by cats(meowww!) ; ).  I like dogs; I like the ones that always look like puppies even when they’re getting older. I hadn’t owned a dog in a long time. The last dog I had I called him snoopee, the first two before him were named snoopy and snoopey, respectively. So my dog snoopee loved me dearly, but he loved smelly socks more than he loved me though, on off season days (days that I hid my socks : ) well)  he wouldn’t mind chewing on some nice sneakers. Despite his bad habits, he was always happy to see me, and I could hear the tiny bell I had put on his collar jingle eagerly while he was running towards me to greet me. He was a foxy little dog with facial expressions that made me believe he was a little boy in a past life. I treated him well, and I allowed him to be an animal, I didn’t spoil him too much. He didn’t have a dog bed; he was to sleep under my bed. I didn’t have to curb him or force him to poop at predetermined times, I trained him to relieve himself outside in our yard, he’ll get punished whenever he disobeyed; punishing him was to drag him to wherever he  did his business and talk loudly to him while I point to him what he did, my lectures always touched his heart, he’d spend the whole day shunning me afterwards. But all in all, I had fun times with him around; I guess he did his job as any pet should to its owner; he spurred happiness in my life and kept me company.


Trendy pets like they were shoes.  : ‘(


Whenever I hear Paris Hilton and dog in the same sentence I can’t help but to picture an unhappy puppy clothed, with sunglasses on. I don’t like that. Pets are not rag dolls, they are not toys or fashion items either. They are animal beings, born fully geared to accommodate with any conditions. I’m not against animal grooming though, in fact when I had my terrier I used to file its nails and bathe him. :) Pets are not accessories they’ll never run out of style; therefore to categorize them as “trendy” or “non-trendy” just to show off or make a fashion statement is just absurdity. They’re pretty just the way they are, they are cuddly little fur balls with soft lovely paws. When you overly pamper your pets, you’re killing off their natural animal flair. It is customary to put a nice collar around pets’ necks, but I find clothing them to be a little superfluous. I don’t condemn such practice however, I sense that the animals feel a little out of sorts about it, so don’t do it so often if at all.


Remember , if you want to make your pets happy you have to love them, feed them, don’t confine them,you have to look after them, and for the love of God let them be animals!


 


What’s next Paris Hilton? Fishnet stockings for your pet giraffes?.

02:01 PM Mar 19 2012 |

kotlesya

kotlesya

Belarus

Yes, it is funny cartoon. :) I did see it ( but not in details) with my kids Laughing 

12:54 PM Mar 19 2012 |

1 person likes this

kotlesya

kotlesya

Belarus

Your word “catdog” reminded me the cartoon “CatDog”. Have you ever seen it?


12:51 PM Mar 19 2012 |

1 person likes this

kotlesya

kotlesya

Belarus

are you talking about dog like that? Laughing


Картинка 7 из 106194

12:48 PM Mar 19 2012 |

1 person likes this

kotlesya

kotlesya

Belarus

mnal_F, dogs need more care than cats it is true, but you get more love from dogs than you get from cats. It worth to devote yourself for the dog.


I just compare my feelings when I had  cats and dog :) Forgive me, but my love to the cats not so strong like it is for dogs. Cry

12:15 PM Mar 19 2012 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

mnal,  hello, yes, they definitely are  clean . 

12:13 PM Mar 19 2012 |

1 person likes this

 julito

julito

Argentina

Catcher, I agree, all they have to do is wag their tail to please  you, in exchange , get  free board ,    don´t have to worrie  about  the Vet´s bill.   What a deal !!!   I am joking , they are adorable.      

12:00 PM Mar 19 2012 |

kotlesya

kotlesya

Belarus

CatcheR, beggar can only dream to turn into the dog and live the life spoiled dog lives Laughing

11:58 AM Mar 19 2012 |

kotlesya

kotlesya

Belarus

Irene, when I read your comment I recollect the cosy villages of my native Ukraine with lots of pets within it.  


Belarussian countryside is little bit similar to Ukrainian with the abundance of  pets.


The vegetable garden of Ukrainian village is different from Belarussian. The climate  of Ukraine allows to grow many kinds of vegetable and fruits.


Belarussian climate limits us with plants we would like to grow.


I miss the apricot, peech trees here. It is too cold for them to mature.


But to your amazement  I have managed to gather in the harvest of the melons last September. This is because the summer was anomalous hot in Belarus.


We will try to grow the melons again this year.Laughing

11:57 AM Mar 19 2012 |

CatcheR

CatcheR

Iceland

Dogs life as a pet is better than human hkhkhk…...........

11:45 AM Mar 19 2012 |

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