diff --git a/hermes_cli/pets.py b/hermes_cli/pets.py
index 5c2c703ea7..e5d10b3203 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/pets.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/pets.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ def _cmd_list(args) -> int:
     """List gallery pets (or only installed ones with ``--installed``)."""
     from agent.pet import store
 
-    if getattr(args, "installed", False):
+    if args.installed:
         pets = store.installed_pets()
         if not pets:
             print("No pets installed. Try: hermes pets install boba")
@@ -34,11 +34,11 @@ def _cmd_list(args) -> int:
         _err(f"✗ {exc}")
         return 1
 
-    query = (getattr(args, "query", "") or "").strip().lower()
+    query = (args.query or "").strip().lower()
     if query:
         entries = [e for e in entries if query in e.slug.lower() or query in e.display_name.lower()]
 
-    limit = getattr(args, "limit", 0) or 0
+    limit = args.limit or 0
     shown = entries[:limit] if limit > 0 else entries
     installed = {p.slug for p in store.installed_pets()}
 
@@ -58,14 +58,14 @@ def _cmd_install(args) -> int:
 
     slug = args.slug.strip()
     try:
-        pet = store.install_pet(slug, force=getattr(args, "force", False))
+        pet = store.install_pet(slug, force=args.force)
     except (store.PetStoreError, ManifestError) as exc:
         _err(f"✗ install failed: {exc}")
         return 1
 
     print(f"✓ installed {pet.display_name} → {pet.directory}")
 
-    if getattr(args, "select", False) or not _has_active_pet():
+    if args.select or not _has_active_pet():
         _set_active(slug)
         print(f"✓ {pet.display_name} is now the active pet (display.pet.slug={slug}, enabled)")
     else:
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ def _cmd_remove(args) -> int:
 def _cmd_select(args) -> int:
     from agent.pet import store
 
-    slug = (getattr(args, "slug", "") or "").strip()
+    slug = (args.slug or "").strip()
     if not slug:
         pets = store.installed_pets()
         if not pets:
@@ -124,12 +124,9 @@ def _cmd_scale(args) -> int:
 
 
 def _cmd_show(args) -> int:
-    """Animate the active (or named) pet in the terminal.
-
-    Uses the shared :class:`~agent.pet.render.PetRenderer` — full graphics protocol
-    (kitty/iTerm2/sixel) when the terminal supports it, else a truecolor Unicode half-block
-    fallback. Ctrl+C to stop.
-    """
+    """Animate the active (or named) pet in the terminal via the shared PetRenderer
+    (kitty/iTerm2/sixel when supported, else truecolor half-block fallback). Ctrl+C stops."""
+    import shutil
     import time
 
     from agent.pet import store
@@ -137,31 +134,26 @@ def _cmd_show(args) -> int:
     from agent.pet.render import build_renderer
 
     cfg = _pet_config()
-    slug = (getattr(args, "slug", "") or "").strip() or str(cfg.get("slug", "") or "")
+    slug = (args.slug or "").strip() or str(cfg.get("slug", "") or "")
     pet = store.resolve_active_pet(slug)
     if pet is None:
         _err("✗ no pet to show — run: hermes pets install boba")
         return 1
 
-    mode_cfg = getattr(args, "mode", None) or str(cfg.get("render_mode", "auto") or "auto")
-    scale = float(getattr(args, "scale", 0) or cfg.get("scale", DEFAULT_SCALE) or DEFAULT_SCALE)
+    mode_cfg = args.mode or str(cfg.get("render_mode", "auto") or "auto")
+    scale = float(args.scale or cfg.get("scale", DEFAULT_SCALE) or DEFAULT_SCALE)
     cols = resolve_cols(scale, cfg.get("unicode_cols", 0))
 
-    renderer = build_renderer(
-        pet.spritesheet,
-        configured_mode=mode_cfg,
-        scale=scale,
-        unicode_cols=cols,
-    )
+    renderer = build_renderer(pet.spritesheet, configured_mode=mode_cfg, scale=scale, unicode_cols=cols)
     if not renderer.available:
         _err(f"✗ cannot render here (no TTY / graphics disabled). Effective mode: {renderer.mode}.")
         return 1
 
     # Which states to play: one named state, or cycle the driveable rows.
-    requested = (getattr(args, "state", "") or "").strip().lower()
+    requested = (args.state or "").strip().lower()
     if requested:
         states = [requested]
-    elif getattr(args, "cycle", False):
+    elif args.cycle:
         states = [s for s in STATE_ROWS if s in {e.value for e in PetState}]
     else:
         states = [PetState.IDLE.value]
@@ -169,11 +161,8 @@ def _cmd_show(args) -> int:
     is_unicode = renderer.mode == "unicode"
     frame_delay = max(0.05, (LOOP_MS / 1000.0) / max(1, renderer.frame_count(states[0]) or 1))
 
-    # Right-align the sprite against the terminal's right edge — half-blocks by
-    # indenting each row, graphics protocols by padding the cursor to the right
-    # column before the image draws (kitty/iTerm/sixel all render at the cursor).
-    import shutil
-
+    # Right-align against the terminal's right edge — half-blocks by indenting each row, graphics
+    # protocols by padding the cursor (kitty/iTerm/sixel all render at the cursor).
     term_cols = shutil.get_terminal_size((80, 24)).columns
     sprite_cols = cols if is_unicode else max(1, int(renderer.frame_w * renderer.scale) // 8)
     indent = " " * max(0, term_cols - sprite_cols - 1)
@@ -187,8 +176,7 @@ def _cmd_show(args) -> int:
         loops = 0
         while True:
             for state in states:
-                count = renderer.frame_count(state) or 1
-                for i in range(count):
+                for i in range(renderer.frame_count(state) or 1):
                     encoded = renderer.frame(state, i)
                     if is_unicode:
                         if indent:
@@ -197,8 +185,7 @@ def _cmd_show(args) -> int:
                             out.write(f"\x1b[{prev_lines}F")  # cursor up to redraw in place
                         out.write(encoded)
                         out.write("\x1b[0m\n")
-                        # Lines drawn = sprite rows + the trailing newline; move
-                        # back up exactly that many so the next frame overwrites.
+                        # Lines drawn = sprite rows + trailing newline; the next frame overwrites.
                         prev_lines = encoded.count("\n") + 1
                     else:
                         out.write("\x1b[2J\x1b[3J\x1b[H")  # clear for image protocols
@@ -207,7 +194,7 @@ def _cmd_show(args) -> int:
                     out.flush()
                     time.sleep(frame_delay)
             loops += 1
-            if getattr(args, "once", False) and loops >= len(states):
+            if args.once and loops >= len(states):
                 break
     except KeyboardInterrupt:
         pass
@@ -261,9 +248,7 @@ def _cmd_doctor(args) -> int:
     return 0
 
 
-# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-# config helpers
-# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# ── config helpers ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 def _pet_config() -> dict:
     from hermes_cli.config import load_config
@@ -284,11 +269,10 @@ def _pet_enabled(cfg: dict) -> bool:
 
 
 def _update_pet_config(when_slug: str | None = None, **values) -> bool:
-    """Write ``display.pet.*`` keys and save config.
+    """Write ``display.pet.*`` keys and save config; returns whether anything was written.
 
-    With ``when_slug`` the write only happens when the currently configured slug equals it (used
-    by remove/rename so an inactive pet never disturbs the active one). Returns whether anything
-    was written.
+    With ``when_slug`` the write only happens when the configured slug equals it (remove/rename
+    must never disturb a different active pet).
     """
     from hermes_cli.config import load_config, save_config
 
@@ -312,12 +296,9 @@ def _set_enabled(enabled: bool) -> None:
 
 
 def set_pet_scale(value: float | str) -> tuple[float, str | None]:
-    """Set ``display.pet.scale`` (clamped to bounds). Returns ``(applied, error)``.
-
-    The single write path behind ``/pet scale`` and the desktop slider, so every surface that
-    resolves scale from config picks it up identically. *error* is set (and nothing written) only
-    when *value* isn't a number.
-    """
+    """Set ``display.pet.scale`` (clamped). Returns ``(applied, error)``; *error* is set (and
+    nothing written) only when *value* isn't a number. Single write path behind ``/pet scale``
+    and the desktop slider."""
     from agent.pet.constants import clamp_scale
 
     try:
@@ -334,8 +315,7 @@ def toggle_pet_display() -> tuple[bool, str | None, str | None]:
     from agent.pet import store
 
     cfg = _pet_config()
-    slug = str(cfg.get("slug", "") or "")
-    pet = store.resolve_active_pet(slug)
+    pet = store.resolve_active_pet(str(cfg.get("slug", "") or ""))
 
     if _pet_enabled(cfg):
         _set_enabled(False)
@@ -373,20 +353,13 @@ def print_pet_gallery(*, limit: int = 20) -> None:
 
 
 def _clear_active_if(slug: str) -> bool:
-    """Disable + unset the active pet iff it's ``slug`` (e.g. after removal).
-
-    Returns whether anything changed, so callers don't write config needlessly.
-    """
+    """Disable + unset the active pet iff it's ``slug`` (e.g. after removal)."""
     return _update_pet_config(when_slug=slug, slug="", enabled=False)
 
 
 def _rename_active_if(old_slug: str, new_slug: str) -> bool:
-    """Repoint the active pet from ``old_slug`` to ``new_slug`` iff it's active.
-
-    Used when a rename realigns a pet's slug/dir: if the renamed pet was the active one, the config
-    must follow or surfaces point at a now-missing dir. Preserves the ``enabled`` flag. Returns
-    whether anything changed.
-    """
+    """Repoint the active pet from ``old_slug`` to ``new_slug`` iff it's active (a rename moves
+    the dir; config must follow). Preserves ``enabled``."""
     if not new_slug or old_slug == new_slug:
         return False
     return _update_pet_config(when_slug=old_slug, slug=new_slug)
@@ -408,9 +381,7 @@ def _interactive_pick(pets) -> str:
     return ""
 
 
-# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-# argparse wiring
-# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# ── argparse wiring ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 # (name, help, handler, [((flags...), add_argument kwargs), ...]) — registration order is menu order.
 _SUBCOMMANDS = (