Last year, some friends of my dry-cleaner's cousin went down to Mexico City to try to adopt a dog. When they returned home with their beloved pet, it sadly became sick, and they rushed it to the vet. Only to their dismay did their veterinarian bear the terrible news that their Mexican pet was not a dog, but a sewer rat, and that it had rabies.
             There's a good chance that you've heard this story, or some variation of it. News of the "Mexican pet" has been passed on by thousands of people over the course of many years. It has been relayed by word of mouth, e-mail and even through television and film. But there is absolutely no evidence that any such thing ever occurred, in Mexico or any other foreign country. This fictional story is a quintessential urban legend, which is defined as an incredible tale passed from one person to another as truth. Although this story is completely untrue, there is some importance in the way it is told and analyzed. From one story, many variations are told, each carrying the same motif, but with different spins.
             I ventured out among my friends and family to determine the variations of this story which have been passed along, and what people really believe to be true. The first person I asked is a class mate of mine, who claimed that it was true, but was not sure who it happened to. All she knew was that it really happened.
             "Ok, so there's this lady and her husband. They go down to Mexico on vacation. While they're in their motel, they look outside and see this weird, kinda ugly dog. It's really small. She feeds it for a couple of nights and then lets it sleep in the room with them. They both fall in love with this animal, who they think is adorable by the way, and decide to take it home when they leave. When they get on the but to go to the airport, she puts it in a blanket to hide it so they can snuggle it through. You know they're not allowed to...