Dogs and cats gather around the small shrub just outside of the neighborhood.

Rusty, a small hound, begins the meeting. “Fellow pets, welcome back to the neighborhood meeting.”

A small kitten, brown with white splotches, asks in a timid voice, “Is it usual for our owners to feed us once a week?”

Rusty’s face fell, as did all the pets’ faces.

In the moonlight, the kitten’s ribs could easily be seen.

“My dear,” says an old cat, with graying hair. “That is not usual, and it is not alright.”

The kitten’s eyes fill with tears.

The older cat huddles around the small kitten.

A large bulldog breaks the dreadful silence, “My owner keeps feeding me bland dog food, but I’m done with it, so secretly I have been stealing his food. He still doesn’t know!”

The pets laugh.

“My owner just sleeps all day,” remarks a small yorkie. “I thought that was my job.”

Rusty and the kitten laugh in unison.

“Our owners are just a bunch of pests,” says an old, black cat. “I think we should overthrow them.”

The black cat smiles with evilness.

All the pets are silent for a beat, but then they cheer in agreement.

“To the houses!!!”