yet another from the "crap you can't make up" department...

[acroyear]

Caring for Pets Left Behind by the Rapture - BusinessWeek:

Many people in the U.S.—perhaps 20 million to 40 million—believe there will be a Second Coming in their lifetimes, followed by the Rapture . In this event, they say, the righteous will be spirited away to a better place while the godless remain on Earth. But what will become of all the pets?

Bart Centre, 61, a retired retail executive in New Hampshire, says many people are troubled by this question, and he wants to help. He started a service called Eternal Earth-Bound Pets that promises to rescue and care for animals left behind by the saved.

Promoted on the Web as "the next best thing to pet salvation in a Post Rapture World," the service has attracted more than 100 clients, who pay $110 for a 10-year contract ($15 for each additional pet.) If the Rapture happens in that time, the pets left behind will have homes—with atheists. Centre has set up a national network of godless humans to carry out the mission. "If you love your pets, I can't understand how you could not consider this," he says.

Comments

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

heh - i just forwarded that to Ed Brayton with the comment that I've mixed feelings.

On the one hand, I hate people getting milked for an obvious scam...but on the other hand, i like it when the religiously stupid get milked in a way that doesn't feed the coffers of the religiously powerful.

[stori-lundi.livejournal.com]

I'm sure they could expand their market to people who think they will be abducted by aliens.

[thatliardiego.livejournal.com]

How are they getting milked for a scam? The people who sign up know exactly what they're paying for.

I'm only mad I didn't think of it myself. That's some easy money right there.

[thewhitedragon.livejournal.com]

I've gotta agree. They *are* providing a service. So long as all criteria are met.