Kids experience the fleeting life cycle of pets




San Francisco Chronicle Arts & Entertainment - Spoken Edition show

Summary: From the beginning, we expected their demise. The goldfish that our friends won at the elementary school carnival had quickly expired, but at the pet store, the clerk informed me that these creatures could in fact live for years, if cared for properly. More reality checks followed: The glass bowls on display weren’t suitable digs for a pair of goldfish, because of their rapid growth, and their frequent eating and defecating fouled the water.