I'm an old player who took a break and recently came back. Turns out my stash of foundies are now worth quite a bit! 

The only animal I currently have in real life is a dog. He's a 95-pound Great Pyrenees mix, though, so he's nearly as good as a pony! Because he came from rescue I've become involved in Great Pyrenees Rescue— I highly recommend it. It's as rewarding as it is sad. You'll see some stuff you wished you hadn't, but being the miracle in another creature's life is absolutely wonderful. 

The above paragraph is no longer true on at least two counts. First, I got us a puppy a few years ago! She' fully grown now, but she'll always be my itty-bitty princess. 

Second, in the fall of 2022, my darling dog's back legs started losing strength. In April of 2023, he fell down the back stairs because his legs just couldn't get him up. I made the appointment, and now he's buried under the fig tree where I can see him while I make my morning coffee. Still 100% worth it.