The stamp art for Pets features 20 existing photographs of different animals. Each photograph represents animals we love from these groups: puppies, betta fish, iguanas, hamsters, goldfish, parrots, guinea pigs, tortoises, rabbits, kittens, corn snakes, mice, hermit crabs, chinchillas, gerbils, dogs, parakeets, horses, cats, and geckos.

More than half of U.S. homes have at least one pet, with the number growing every year. The most common domesticated animals are dogs and cats, but pets come in all shapes and sizes. Pets offer their human companions unconditional love and happiness, as well as physical and emotional health benefits. They are more than just animals; many people consider them members of the family. Whether you prefer the silky scales of a corn snake or the warm fluff of a guinea pig, responsible pet ownership begins with familiarizing yourself with the animal possession laws and regulations in your area and finding the right pet for your life and needs. Choosing a pet whose specific needs you can understand and accommodate will ensure that your new animal friend will live a happy, healthy, and safe life.

The betta was first discovered in Southeast Asia. Making its home in rice paddies, drainage ditches, and the warm flood plains of the region, the betta became accustomed to frequent storm flooding and devastating droughts. The cyclic, drastic changes in its environment helped the fish to adapt, becoming a true labyrinth fish. A labyrinth fish has the unique ability to breathe oxygen directly from the air and also take in oxygen from its gills. As a result, bettas and other labyrinth fish can survive for short periods of time out of water and if needed, can inhale the air around them (provided they stay moist.) This also explains why a betta can sustain itself in stagnant, oxygen-deficient water. Although bettas can tolerate small spaces and poor water quality, they do best in small aquariums (at least two gallons) with regular water changes.

The betta got its name from an ancient clan of warriors, called the "Bettah." The fish were given a combatant name after the fighting fish became popular in the mid-1800s. In fact, the sport became so renowned in Thailand that the former King of Siam had it regulated and taxed! Spectators of the sport based their bets on the bravery of the fish, rather than the damage inflicted by the victor.