"I would never." He gives the dog another pat on the head before he gives a smile. "And what about you... are you too old and decrepit to eat something as simple as oats and fruit, James? It does seem you rather enjoy the plain rice more... hardly enough to sustain you though."

Pathetic, really, but he bites back that remark.

Instead, he decides to make a casual conversation in another way-- "What other sort of animals do you have here, James?"