Pet of the Week: Harriet!
Zoe Stanton-Savitz ‘23
Harriet is a Madagascar hissing cockroach and owner, Ariana Brenig’s pride and joy. She is named after Brenig’s friend’s late grandmother, “so Harriet Baker lives on forever,” Brenig says.
Before fall semester, Brenig had been wanting a pet all summer but knew that she needed to discuss it with her roommate before taking the plunge.
“I really wanted an insect as a pet,” Brenig says. “I wanted a millipede but my roommate said that’s too scary. So here she is.”
Brenig ultimately bought Harriet at the end of September from Rainbow Mealworms — a website generally used to buy food for larger pets.
“One of her antennas got broken in transport and I thought it was gonna grow back but it hasn’t.” Brenig says. “I kinda love it because if she was in a group of others I would be able to recognize her. It gives her a little bit of spice, a little personality.”
Harriet survives on a diet of fruits and vegetables from Bates. According to Brenig, her favorite are radish slices.
Besides eating tiny bites of food, Harriet mostly just resides in her tank, which Brenig has decorated as a more homely space. The tank is replete with amenities including a tiny toilet, vanity, plastic charcuterie board, egg carton bed and pictures of Jesus and the Virgin Mary.
“I’m Jewish but she’s Christian,” Brenig explains.
Brenig acquired or made many of these decorations because Harriet is “a material girl.”
“She doesn’t like to play, she just likes to stand,” Brenig says. “Sometimes I get her angry so that she’ll hiss at me.”
Although Brenig is not able to tell Harriet’s biological gender, “she’s a girl to me,” she says.
“I would never have a son, that’s gross,” Brenig says. “She’s not capable of complex thought so I can forcibly gender her.”
Harriet is predicted to live two to three years. After a few months of caring for her, Brenig says that she and Harriet have formed a bond.
“I think she knows me,” Brenig says. “I think over time she does recognize my smell. I literally love her so much.”