, a teenager who had spent months researching how to properly care for a rabbit. He wasn’t looking for a "toy"; he was looking for a commitment. He had already memorized the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare : freedom from hunger, discomfort, pain, fear, and the freedom to express natural behavior. In a quiet corner sat

Elena knelt down. Tenacity placed a paw on her knee, looked her in the eye, and for the first time—licked her cheek.