[Charles, British accent] Hello. I'm an English bulldog.
Do you happen to have an English muffin?
[chuckles] Charles, that's a French bulldog.
[normal] Oh, uh, got it.
[French accent] Un french fry?
[laughs]
You are ridiculous. [chuckles]
[dog whimpers]
[Charles, cute voice] Hi. I'm a cute little white puppy.
Can I play with your tennis ball? Please?
[chuckles] What kinda accent is that?
[Charles, normal] A cute little white puppy accent.
That puppy is a West Highland white terrier.
The breed originated in Scotland.
Scotland? I don't know any of their food.
[chuckles] [puppy barks]
[chuckles] Oh, look.
He couldn't get the tennis ball, so he moved on to someone's sweatshirt.
-[chuckles] -[laughs] That looks like your sweatshirt.
Wait. What?
Oh, my goodness. Come on.
Where'd he go? I don't know.
[Lizzie] Let's check the bushes.
Where are you? Come here, boy.
[both] Come on out.
[groans] Where are you?
Charles.
[chuckles]
[licking]
-[whines] -Aw, are you okay?
[whimpers]
Do you think he lives here?
No collar. He's probably a stray.
[yips] Aw.
It's okay. Come here.
-[whines] -[Charles] Don't worry. We got you.
Oh, my. Hi.
Come on. Let's go.
[chattering]
Thanks. [chuckles]
Madison said everyone loved our duet
at Thao's karaoke party.
Well, we did nail it.
In tune and always in sync.
Nice work, you two. Really impressed with the amount of research here.
Thank you.
[chuckles]
I knew using only peer-reviewed sources would put us over the top.
Which reminds me...
The new debate team T-shirts came in,
and they picked our design. [giggles]
Awesome.
Wait. Why are they yellow? Didn't we decide on red?
Oh, we did, but I decided to change it
because yellow is a highly visible and attention- grabbing color.
But so is red.
[Mr. Griffin] May I have everyone's attention, please?
Meet Eddie, our new class pet.
Class pet? Class pet?
Each of you will be responsible for Eddie for two weeks.
That means feeding him, keeping his terrarium clean,
and giving him lots of attention.
All right? So, who wants to take care of this little fella first?
[gasps] Me.
[Mr. Griffin] Oh, okay, Maria.
[chuckles] I know Eddie will appreciate your enthusiasm.
I can finally have a pet that won't aggravate my dad's dander allergy.
Isn't this great?
Yeah, for sure.
Maria's taking care of him first,
but he gets passed around to someone new every two weeks.
Seems like a lot of adjustment for a little lizard.
Exactly. I don't know.
-It sounds like a fun learning experience. -Not for Eddie.
I'd rather have a lizard than a "grand buddy."
Really? I thought you'd be more excited.
About going to a retirement community?
Mmm. Oh, I loved the grand buddy program.
Besides, you can learn a lot from somebody who's lived through ten presidencies.
And shuffleboard does not get the respect it deserves.
I'd rather stay here with Snowball.
[whines]
Oh. [chuckles] He already knows his name. Impressive.
-[laughs] -By the way, two bits of good news.
Dr. Abby said Snowball's tests came back, and he's completely healthy.
Also, she knows of two families who want to adopt a smaller dog.
[growling]
[chuckles] My sweatshirt again?
There's a dog bed right there, Snowball.
Aw. He must really like your scent.
Which means he likes you.
Oh, I didn't know that.
[chuckles] That's cool.
I like you too, Snowball.
It's great knowing kids your age are still interested
in joining the grand buddies program.
Well, it wasn't exactly my choice. I--
It's so rewarding for our residents.
Uh, Stella, have you gone outside today?
Why bother?
I'm bringing the outside inside, and I don't have to leave my chair.
Uh--
I know you know what you just did, Jerry.
I don't know what you're talking about, Lloyd.
[scoffs, chuckles]
Come on.
-[knocks] -[door opens]
[Lloyd] Hey, Rose.
Meet your grand buddy, Charles Peterson.
Well, I'll-- I'll leave you to it.
Oh, just a reminder, you have physical therapy at 4:30.
Wait a minute. You know I have hiked Mount Washington.
You know I don't need physical therapy.
-I am as ripe as-- -As a four-dollar avocado.
Uh-huh. Thank you.
-But it's still good for you. -Yeah.
Uh, hi. I'm Charles.
Uh, so, wanna go for a walk?
No.
Okay, maybe we can play a board game?
Not feelin' it.
[sighs] Is there anything you wanna do?
Look, Charlie...
I didn't sign up for this buddy thing.
I've been independent all my life.
It's okay. I didn't really sign up for it either.
I had to for school.
Well, you should never let other people tell you what to do.
I'm in third grade.
[inhales] Got it.
[sighs]
Well, uh, I have to be here for an hour.
So I can just read or something.
Then I get to go home and play with my new foster puppy.
Fostering a puppy.
Well, that's a noble pursuit.
Yeah. [chuckles] Me and my sister love it.
What do you think of this?
I once chained myself to a 400-year-old oak tree
for three days just to keep it from being cut down.
-Whoa, that's so cool. -I thought so.
[sighs]
[exhales deeply]
Okay, Snowball. Ready? Go get the rope.
[barking]
Uh... [scoffs] I get it. You like to pick your own toys.
[Snowball whines]
Hey. So, how was your grand buddy?
She's okay. I'm definitely bringing some manga next time.
Did the first family like Snowball?
Well, they loved him at first, but he wasn't that into them.
Especially when they tried to pick him up.
[doorbell rings]
Oh. Okay, Snowball, here's your second chance.
Time to be on your best behavior.
[whines, grumbles]
-Hey, Snowball, stop. -[growls, barking]
[sighs]
Okay. Come on, Snowball. Do you wanna play? Do you wanna play?
H-He just takes a minute to warm up.
That's fine. We're in no rush.
-[whimpers] -Aw, he is tired.
[chuckles] Come here, you.
[Snowball growls, whines]
I don't think he wants to be held right now.
[chuckles]
No worries. [laughs]
We'll just pet you, Snowball. Is that okay?
[growls, whimpers]
Uh...
Doesn't want that either.
[both chuckle]
-Hey, Maria, I'm actually glad you called. -Lizzie, check this out.
I got Eddie a warming rock, a hollow log hidey-hole
and a ton of fresh vegetation to munch on.
Right. About that.
I've been doing some research, and I'm gonna be honest.
I don't think the class pet program is such a great idea.
Really? I think it's a great program.
Well, if you're considering the welfare of Eddie or any animal,
it's not such a great program.
I am considering Eddie's welfare,
and I'm taking really good care of him.
That's-- That's not what I'm saying.
Then what are you saying?
Eddie deserves consistent care,
not to be passed around every two weeks.
I'm going to Mr. Griffin to ask him
to end the class pet program tomorrow.
I can't believe you'd go to Mr. Griffin without talking to me first.
That's what we're doing now.
No, we're not talking.
You're just telling me what you've already decided to do.
Like you did with the debate T-shirts.
You're still mad about the T-shirts?
No. I'm mad at you because we're supposed to be best friends,
but you don't seem to care what I think.
That's not true, Maria.
I'm just trying to do what's right for Eddie.
And I'm not?
I need to feed him.
[computer beeps]
[sighs]
Ready to head out?
[sighs] If we have to.
That excited to see your grand buddy?
She just sits in a chair and reads. But it-- It's cool.
It's cool?
I mean, it's no big deal.
She doesn't want me there anyway.
Charles, if she didn't want you to come back,
I'm sure we'd have heard about it.
I don't know. We have nothing in common.
Everyone has something in common,
no matter how old or young you are, what you look like or where you come from.
Sometimes it just takes a minute to figure it out.
I know you, Charles.
If you want to find that connection, you will.
But if you don't, it's cool.
[chuckles] Meet you in the car.
[whimpers]
[Charles] Hi, Rose.
Charlie.
[chuckles]
Oh, good. You brought lunch.
Anything but kebabs.
Every other day here is some type of kebabs.
[chuckles] It's not lunch. This is Snowball.
He's the foster dog I wanted you to meet.
Charles, I did not approve of a second guest.
I mean, I barely approve of you being here.
Well, I thought that you might wanna meet him.
I'm sorry.
I am not a dog person.
Oh. [stammers] Don't worry. I mean, you won't even notice he's here.
[sniffing, barking]
[scoffs] See? Kinda does his own thing.
Clearly.
We actually found him in the park.
He built his own home in the bushes and everything.
Oh, you think that's something, huh?
I spent 13 months freezing my tail off in Denali, Alaska,
marching with the Athabascan tribe to protect their land rights.
Wow. [chuckles]
"Wow" is right. And you know what?
The tribe made me this as a thank-you.
-What do you think? -Whoa.
Isn't that somethin'? [chuckles] You be careful with that, huh?
[grumbles, barks]
[barking]
[laughs]
He got that ball from Jerry's walker.
-[laughing] -Oh.
Snowball, no.
No, no, it's fine.
He has a sock drawer full of 'em. [laughs]
[barks]
Whoo-hoo.
[barks]
[laughing]
Oh, boy.
[sighs]
That's the most I've laughed in quite a while.
[Snowball barking]
What kind of dog is that, anyways?
He's a West Highland terrier from Scotland.
Ah.
[Scottish accent] Are you now?
Well, how 'bout you get that ball just a wee bit closer
so I can kick it back for ya? Huh?
[grumbles, whines]
[normal voice] Well, he's a stubborn one, isn't he?
He sure is.
Reminds me of someone I know.
Who?
Ah.
You ready for a break, hon?
Been working on your homework for quite a while.
I'm good.
And it's not homework. It's a pros and cons list.
-Ooh. What are we "pro-ing" and "con-ing"? -Class pets.
-Ah. Hmm. -[sighs]
I'm trying my best to be fair,
but I'm having a really hard time coming up with any pros,
except that I'd still be talking to my best friend.
You know, if you listen to Maria's side of things,
I wouldn't be surprised if you came up with a few more.
But she's wrong.
I'm not saying you need to agree with her,
but it never hurts to listen.
[footsteps approach]
Mom, why did you wash this? It's Snowball's favorite. Remember?
Hate to break it to you, but I think Snowball's moved on.
Oh.
[whines]
-[Charles] Come on, Snowball. -[sniffing]
[whines]
[barks]
-Hey, you're back. -[whines]
You know you're only required to be here twice a week.
Well, I wanted to return this. Snowball took it.
Oh. I wondered where that went.
And he's been sleeping with it ever since we left.
Really?
Yeah. It means he likes you.
A lot. [chuckles]
[barking]
Well, I'd love to give it to ya, hon, but--
No, you should keep it. And you should keep Snowball too.
-Oh, me? Adopt a dog? -[whines]
Oh, no, no, no, no. I can't.
Yes, you can.
Snowball is the easiest puppy I've ever met.
You'd barely have to do anything.
He's really independent. He's just like you.
Well... [stammers] ...Charlie, I--
And I know you like him, even if you say you don't.
Of course I like him.
-I like him a whole lot. -[barks]
So why won't you adopt him?
[sighs]
They don't allow dogs here.
[whines]
[sighs]
Did you really make a class pets pros and cons list?
Of course I did. And you did too.
Obviously.
[Mrs. Dunn] All right, debaters. Let's open up the floor.
Our two co-captains, Lizzie and Maria, will start us off.
Have you picked a topic?
[both] Class--
Pets? [scoffs]
I mean, technically, we don't have an actual "no pets" rule.
-Wait-- Where did my pen go? -Well, then Rose can adopt Snowball.
-I don't think it's a good idea. -But you just said that--
I know. But...
I'm worried Rose doesn't have the stamina
to take care of a dog on her own.
Yeah, but Snowball takes care of himself.
And that's why he's perfect for her. You won't even notice he's here.
Charles, I appreciate you looking out for Rose.
Thank you. And trust me,
our residents' best interests are my top priority too.
But my staff is stretched thin as it is,
and I'm afraid a dog would mean one more thing for us to worry about.
Our first topic is class pets.
Lizzie and Maria have asked to go head-to-head.
Maria is pro, Lizzie is con.
Good luck. Don't need it.
The pro side begins. Maria?
Thank you, Mrs. Dunn.
Fellow debate club members,
a class pet is a great addition to any classroom,
benefiting both students and teachers.
-Wh-- -What about the pet, Maria?
How does it benefit them?
The answer? It doesn't.
Lizzie, you know you have to wait to give your rebuttal.
Yeah, you're right. I know that.
She knows that, but she doesn't care.
She's already made up her mind like she always does.
Always, Maria? [scoffs] Really?
Pretty much. Okay.
I'm not sure what's going on here, but if you wanna continue,
you both need to listen and treat each other with respect.
You're co-captains. Leaders.
Can we please act like it?
You know, we're also best friends. At least I hope we still are.
[Mrs. Dunn] Maria, do you wanna continue?
As I was saying, class pets give teachers a built-in educational tool
teaching kids responsibility and empathy.
Taking care of small animals can lead to kids being more prepared
to take care of larger ones like cats and dogs.
Also, for kids who aren't allowed to have pets at home,
they get to experience something they wouldn't have been able to.
While some kids might take better care of their class pets than others,
they will all learn the invaluable lesson of compassion.
While well-intentioned, the class pet program is disorienting for the animal.
Animals of all sizes need time to build up a sense of trust,
and they can't do that if they're being passed around from house to house.
But Maria made some pretty good points I hadn't thought of.
Taking care of another living creature is the most important thing we can do.
For them...
and for us.
But not if it risks hurting the living creature in question.
[chuckles] I'm sorry, did you two just switch sides?
No, actually, I think we're on the same side.
[school bell rings]
[sighs] Well, now I'm torn.
The class pet program has a lot of merit,
but an animal's well-being does take precedence.
Mr. Griffin, what if we replaced the class pet...
With a class plant?
They also need TLC, and it'll teach responsibility.
And a plant won't get upset about moving from home to home.
I actually love that idea.
Here you go. Just please take better care of him than I did. Hmm?
[chuckles] Don't worry. He's in good hands.
Now, what are we gonna do about Eddie?
I think that Maria should keep him.
I would love that, and so would my dad.
He and Eddie have gotten pretty tight.
[chuckles] Sounds perfect.
[mouthing words] Thank you.
And moving forward, anytime we disagree on something,
no matter how right we may think we are...
We will always hear each other out.
On that note, the shirts do look better in red.
Really?
I don't know. The yellow is starting to grow on me.
[laughs] [chuckles]
Charles, have you seen...
anybody?
[laughs] Follow me.
[sighs]
-[laughing, chattering] -[barking]
What's this all about?
-Proof that Snowball belongs here. -[barks]
Hey, Lloyd. Was there a dog here the whole time?
Had I known, I would've come outside ages ago.
Shame on you for keeping it a secret, Lloyd.
[laughs]
Hey, Lloyd. Anything I can help you with?
I mean, anything at all?
No, Jerry, I'm good. But thanks for asking.
Aw, anytime, my friend.
Oh, and by the way, by the way, uh--
-You dropped this. -Oh.
You know, I think Snowball would make a wonderful addition to the community.
I get it, Jerry. [laughs]
So, what do you think?
Everyone is so much happier with Snowball here.
[Rose] Oh, hey, Lloyd.
Why don't you come over here and throw the ball for Snowball?
I would, but I'm doing my physical therapy,
which you know I just love.
[Snowball barks]
So?
You got it, Rose.
Good, I'm so glad. Look at this little thing.
-[Lloyd laughs] -[barks]
[barking]
[all chuckle]
Ooh.
[laughing, chattering continues]
-You're sure? -Yeah.
Yeah, I don't think Ulysses S. Plant is gonna make it.
Not with that attitude he won't.
I've taken care of so many puppies.
You'd think I'd be able to handle this.
Maybe he needs some sunlight.
-I'll take him out front. -Thanks, Charles.
Hey, Charlie. I let myself in.
-[chuckles] I can see that. -Oh.
This is my grand buddy, Rose.
-[both chuckle] Hi. -[Charles] Snowball's new owner.
Well, more like a friend than an owner. [laughs]
[whines, barks]
-[Rose laughs] -[Paul chuckles]
Hey, look at you.
We were just getting ready to drop him at your place.
Well, you know, Lloyd suggested that I walk here instead
because it was good exercise.
-And I did not fight him. -[chuckles]
-Oh, we give him enough grief as it is. -[both chuckle]
Okay, Snowball. Ready to go?
-[barking] -Ugh. [laughs]
From Snowball, that's a "yes."
And that's why I love him.
Hey, Rose. I know the grand buddies program is over,
but maybe I could still come visit you and Snowball?
Oh, honey, absolutely. [chuckles]
-Just, if you bring lunch-- -No kebabs. I got it.
That's right.
Okay, Snowball. I'm comin' for ya.
-[Paul chuckles] -[Snowball barking]