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@{$pets} = $1 if $pet_list =~ /$some_variable\:(.*?)(;|\z)/; # or not allow ';' in values: @{$pets} = $1 if $pet_list =~ /$some_variable\:([^;]*)(;|\z)/;
@{$pets} = $1 if $pet_list =~ /(?:\A|;)\Q$some_variable\E\:([^;]*)(;|\ +z)/;