the unique registration code is entered causing an image or other virtual representation of the real world item with which the registration code is associated being displayed on the website different types of pets are available for adoption for example black cats golden retriever dogs horses pigs etc each month one type of the pets that is available for adoption becomes spotlighted that type of item becomes the pet of the month for that one month or other limited period according to another embodiment there may be more than one pet of the month for example between 1 and 5 pets of the month adopting that type of pet during the spotlighted period entitles the adopter to a special online gift or extra item different extra items can be provided for adopting a pet during the spotlighted period for example bonus virtual cash that is available on the website or a virtual item on the website for the type of pet that may be an exclusive item available only to people who have adopted that type of pet during the spotlighted period fig1 illustrates a flowchart that can be carried out over a computer network such as the internet at 100 a user enters the registration code provided with a pet to u201c adopt u201d the pet 110 tests to determine if the current time is during a period.