I came across a small article in USA Weekend that listed the Top 10 dog and cat names, compiled from a database of pets insured by Veterinary Pet Insurance.

They are:

DOGS CATS

1.) Max Max

2.) Molly Chloe
3.) Buddy Lucy

4.) Bella Tigger
5.) Lucy Tiger
6.) Maggie Smokey
7.) Daisy Oliver
8.) Jake Bella
9.) Bailey Sophie
10.) Rocky Princess

In defense of my creativity, I do have a dog named Molly. But she came with her name and it just seemed to suit her so I left it.

Okay, okay—I also had a dog named Daisy growing up. But I was six when I named her. That doesn’t count.

I get that there are cultural differences in the United States. I get that what flies in the south wouldn’t go over so well in the north and vice versa.

But I’m still trying to figure out how skinning a raccoon is an educational experience.

According to the above MSNBC.com article, an Arkansas teacher shot a raccoon with a nail gun—on school property—before his planned lesson on how to skin an animal.

Now, just to be clear, I did participate in a fetal pig dissection as a sophomore, but at no time did my teacher whack the pigs using unconventional methods.

The punishment for said teacher? A reprimand for killing the animal on school grounds and a promise that he would provide more detailed lesson plans.

Makes me grateful my father was transferred to Connecticut when I was six. Instead of taking music and creative writing classes, I could have been proficient at skinning things had his job moved him below the Mason-Dixon line.

James Stevenson, an ardent bird-watcher, is now on trial for killing “Mama Cat” after she terrorized his prized birds.  Animal cruelty? I think so. Especially after the report that Mama Cat had died gurgling on her own blood.

Read more about the case here.

I am admittedly a huge animal enthusiast, but I have an extreme dislike for cats. I don’t care for their personalities and I am severely allergic (okay—that’s not the cats’ fault, but I still don’t like ‘em.)

But they are still living, breathing creatures that feel pain and Stevenson could have found other ways of dealing with the subject. Call animal control, use humane traps and drop her off in another area … something!

And no, for all you sick people out there, he should not have left anti-freeze in a dish on his property (I know you guys were thinking that.)