Gary has had a touch-and-go relationship with domesticated animals. His aunt and uncle wouldn't get him one because the landlord didn't allow anything large and clawed, which excluded most things except for goldfish and small rodents, all of which he attempted. After a most unfortunate mishap with his second-grade class's pet gerbil, those privileges were taken as well. Perhaps he could have entertained himself with the feral cats in Barberton, or the dogs in the park at Leroi Lake, but even they seemed to recognize that Gary Epps was bad news. Or maybe it was something to do with the approach.

'The approach' is the one he's taking now: on seeing the herd of gathering strays around a small figure kneeling in the middle of a lonely alley, Gary tries to sneak up as close as possible, then run into the center of the group with loud whoops of laughter. Helping! He's helping!