Kate's white mouse:

It developed lumps under its arms. Kate cried. "Mom, I think he's blind, too."

I took him to the vet, and the vet said, "These mice only live a couple of years."

"What should I do?"

"We can euthanize him for you for five dollars."

I left Mousie and his sad little red cage with the red wheel and drove home sniffling. Kate cried for an hour, and then, being good old Mom, I took her to the pet store and bought a hamster.