I thought we had the perfect life; a mother, father, two children, and another bundle of joy on the way. We also have a family dog named Missy. Our children have more than they need, way more than I remember having when I was growing up. You would think this would be enough. Evidently in their eyes it is never enough.

On January 31, 2003, my six year old Heather came home from school asking for a hamster. After all the endless promises of feeding, watering, and cleaning up after it, my husband and I thought it might teach her some responsibility. We came to the decision of going and getting her a hamster. Needless to say, we have now accumulated two hamsters, and no responsibility from our six year old.

The first couple of days the hamster was new and cute in her eyes. She fed, watered, cleaned the...