FEATURED PET 8:

Tweekers the Calico Stray

by Connie K. Bittner

My calico cat, Tweekers, is approximately 13 years old. She was a few months old when I got her while in college.  Her mother was a stray cat.  When I took her in, I had roommates who were actually interested in getting a cat and initially named her Tweekers because she was hesitant of humans and at night would "tweak" out running around the apartment.  I did not like the name at first, but over time, she recognized me as her mother and the more I got to know her personality, I realized the name was fitting.  When I lived in Vegas, she would love to run up the corner of my apartment walls as if they were huge scratching posts.  Today she follows me wherever I go in the house and hangs out in that space I am currently in.  She is my little buddy.

FEATURED PET 7:

Angel Baby

by Kathleen Schrader

Angel Baby came to me not as a baby, but as a full grown one year old, Yorkshire Terrier.   While grieving over a rescue dog I had found three weeks before my scheduled knee surgery, I was in rehab when I received news of the dog escaping.  Even under another’s watchful care, she ran away and while running, crossed a street and was instantly killed.  I was so distraught!  The pain in my heart was deeper than any pain radiating from my knee surgery.

When my friend, Sassy, heard what happened, she unselfishly offered me one of her very own Yorkies.  I tried to resist, but with little hesitation and lots of persistence she asked if I wanted a boy or girl, then got in her car, drove all the way from Phoenix, to Las Vegas, bringing one of her females she called Sweet Pea.   I fell in love with Sweet Pea instantly, yet she was so timid and shy, we didn’t know if she would adjust to me or a new environment.  And would I be able to care for her just coming home from rehab, still recovering from bilateral knee surgery?   Everyone knew I could barely stand or walk very far.  And Sweet Pea was not potty trained and was “skittish” along with being extremely withdrawn, by nature.  Taking all this into account, Sassy patiently watched, as she stayed with us for three days before making her final decision.   Over that time she saw the determination in me to crawl out of bed just to take the dog outside, day or night, and watched how we interacted and somehow knew in her heart that Sweet Pea could eventually relax, adjust and enjoy her new life.   Sassy even gave me her blessings to change her name to Angel Baby, when I could get her tags and register her with my Vet.

That was four years ago!   And now, Angel Baby, a/k/a Sweet Pea, is my constant companion.  I went from being adamant about not letting her sleep in my bed nor feeding her any food besides her dog chow; to having her beat me to our bed every night (claiming the best spot for herself) after enjoying both a morning and nighttime doggie treat.  Sassy enjoys updates and chuckles when I tell her Angel Baby’s latest antics.  She knew it wouldn’t take long for me to cave in to my sweet, little Angel, especially when she gives me her sweet “puppy sad-eyes” look.  Then I forget who’s boss!  Sassy keeps telling me “Angel Baby knows who’s Boss, but just let’s you think you are!”  And the truth is. . .  SHE’S RIGHT!

FEATURED PETS 6:

Pom Pom and Rani: A Tale of Two Cats

by Wista Jeanne Johnson

Pom Pom was a tiny ball of grey and white fluff when he entered my life unexpectedly eight years ago. During a visit to my daughter’s apartment for a family get-together, I learned that my 19-year old grandson, a diagnosed schizophrenic, frequently mistreated him. On the spot, I decided to rescue “Keisha,” who turned out to be a male; I renamed him, Pom Pom.

He was the sole recipient of my attention and affection until four years later when my sister, Terri, surprised me with Rani (Hindi for “princess”), a black and white domestic short hair, for my birthday. From the first day, Pom Pom harassed and chased Rani despite my repeated shouts to stop. I worried that he would so traumatize Rani that she might never outgrow her fear of him. Nonetheless, to my surprise, as she got older and bigger, she would strike out with her paw or chase him. The fighting continued.

Frustrated, I phoned “The Pet Show” a New York City radio program; Warren Epstein, the host, advised me to use a blow horn to distract them whenever they tussled. However, I could never locate the damn thing at the exact moment a skirmish broke out. Consequently, it ended up on a shelf along with other useless paraphernalia intended to enrich my cats’ lives.

Pom Pom still nips Rani’s buttock when she least expects it. Other times, she ambushes him as he strolls arrogantly throughout the house. I have learned to stay out of their squabbles.

FEATURED PETS 5:

Dash and Daisy, the Guinea Pigs

D & D Infinite Adventures

by Sarah Horne

Dash and Daisy are two of the most rambunctious baby guinea pigs I have ever come across. Their furry coco and yellow hair would make you instantly fall head over heels for them. Any wild funky thing they do, like hop around each other, I find to be adorable.

How did these two sisters come about you ask? Well, it all started with my sister's words. "Oh, Petite seems so lonely. Doesn't she need a friend, Sarah?" Sarah is yours truly and Petite is my sister's miniature pinscher. Now, why would a little dog need a guinea pig pet you ask? That's a question only God knows the answer to.

When she got the first guinea pig, she quickly discovered that Petite and Baby Brown, the guinea pig, were too afraid of one another to become friends. So, my sister's solution to Baby Brown's solitude was to get her a girl friend she can converse with. Then came Hazel, a furry brown ball that changed everything. These two girls got along very well, a bit too well. So well that not too much later, a litter of baby guinea pigs suddenly appeared in the cage. Oops! So much for them being girls. Three wild babies came out and hit the ground running or should I say, eating.

Dash and Daisy, two of the babies, were gifts that I couldn't refuse. As time goes by, I am fascinated more and more by everything they do. Having them is such a treat and anyone who is scholarly and enjoys studying animals most definitely needs to get a pair of Guineas. I love them infinitely and so would you.

FEATURED PETS 4 - Jasper and Spanky

by Sherri Hendricks

Jasper (the black cat) – The cute little man came dashing through my back yard in the snow at approximately 5 weeks old! After trying to catch him for a week, I got a trap and he has now been in the comforts of our home for 3 years. He ended up having a broke tail and displaced hips so he had been through a lot in the first five weeks of his life, but he is living the good life now!

Spanky – This 15 ½ year old man is truly one of a kind!  I adopted him and his brother (who passed away) from the SPCA at six weeks old when they were abandoned by their mother. Spanky is almost human, he talks, shows you when something is wrong, and is the best ‘child’ I could ever wish for!

FEATURED PET 3 - The 12 Days of Sherman the African Gray by Deborah Duffy

~ On the first day of Christmas, my parrot gave to me…

…a really pecked-on TV remote.

~ On the second day of Christmas, my parrot gave to me…

…two chewed-up phone cords, and a really pecked-on TV remote.

~ On the third day of Christmas, my parrot gave to me…

…three pooped-on door tops, two chewed-up phone cords, and a really pecked-on TV remote.

~ On the fourth day of Christmas, my parrot gave to me…

…four unwinding yarn balls, three pooped-on door tops, two chewed-up phone cords, and a really pecked-on TV remote.

~ On the fifth day of Christmas, my parrot gave to me…

… FIVE CALLING SQUAWKS,

~ On the sixth day of Christmas, my parrot gave to me…

…six toys a-tossing,

…FIVE CALLING SQUAWKS,

…four unwinding balls, three door tops, two chewed-up phone cords, and a really pecked-on TV remote.

~ On the seventh day of Christmas, my parrot gave to me…

…seven bitten book spines, six toys a-tossing,

… FIVE CALLING SQUAWKS,

…four unwinding balls, three door tops, two chewed-up phone cords, and a really pecked-on TV remote.

~ On the eighth day of Christmas, my parrot gave to me…

…eight bells a-ringing, seven bitten book spines, six toys a-tossing,

...FIVE CALLING SQUAWKS,

…four unwinding balls, three door tops, two chewed-up phone cords, and a really pecked-on TV remote.

~ On the ninth day of Christmas, my parrot gave to me…

...nine shredded postcards, eight bells a-ringing, seven bitten book spines, six toys a-tossing,

...FIVE CALLING SQUAWKS,

…four unwinding balls, three door tops, two chewed-up phone cords, and a really pecked-on TV remote.

~ On the tenth day of Christmas, my parrot gave to me…

…ten stolen pencils, nine shredded postcards, eight bells a-ringing, seven bitten book spines, six toys a-tossing,

...FIVE CALLING SQUAWKS,

…four unwinding balls, three door tops, two chewed-up phone cords, and a really pecked-on TV remote.

~ On the eleventh day of Christmas, my parrot gave to me…

…eleven bouncing peanuts, ten stolen pencils, nine shredded postcards, eight bells a-ringing, seven bitten book spines, six toys a-tossing,

...FIVE CALLING SQUAWKS,

…four unwinding balls, three door tops, two chewed-up phone cords, and a really pecked-on TV remote.

~ On the twelfth day of Christmas, my parrot gave to me…

…twelve laptop board keys, eleven bouncing peanuts, ten stolen pencils, nine shredded postcards, eight bells a-ringing, seven bitten book spines, six toys a-tossing,

...FIVE CALLING SQUAWKS,

…four unwinding balls, three door tops, two chewed-up phone cords, and a really pecked-on TV remote.

(Sherman is a 7 year-old Timneh African Grey parrot from New York City, a real lovable tough guy, who now lives in Henderson, NV with his adoring guardian and 3 respectful cats. He truly rules the roost!

FEATURED PET 2 - Angel the Smiling Dalmation

Domesticated Love

by Marylou Conder 2011

She is a perfect companion and treated with affection. My Dalmatian, Angel, is my spotted wonder dog. Her puppy days

lacked the worthiness and affection she has grown into over the last seven years.

My children will confess my dog has a high rank in my household.  But she never talks back and obeys all my orders. I judge highly of her and smile when I reflect on this domesticated animal. Angel smiles when she sees me after a long absence. It’s a growl of a look, showing all her teeth, but her tail is whipping back and

forth wildly. All the neighbors know when I return from work each day. The racket from the garage sounds like a kennel club of dogs busy communicating with each other. Only one dog is making this noise in my kennel and it is all for the excitement of my return home. Sometimes I think I hear her say I love you in her howling, barking voice.

It’s hard to be adored as much as Angel worships me. She demands my pettings as she pushes my arm up with her nose. She dutifully follows me from room to room as I busily do my housework. She jumps up and places her front paws on my shoulders and gives me a doggy hug. She will lay her head on my lap and look up at me with her soulful brown eyes asking for love, kisses and a good petting session.

Angel is always there for me. I have tender feelings for her. It is very worthwhile the time and effort I spend on her. This domesticated animal does have importance to me. I am worthy of her adoration and love and she of mine.

FEATURED PET 1 - Princess

We adopted Princess from the pound about nine years ago. It was between her and an adorable little ginger kitten who ran up my pant legs to my shoulder. Sooooooo cute but we knew he would find a home quickly.

A gangly adolescent meowed at us from behind the door where the recently arrived homeless were held. We didn't know at the time that it is rare for her to talk.

She and her sister had been abandoned in a house and brought in just a few days earlier. Her sibling, who we were told was more outgoing, had found a home the day before, leaving her alone with the other new arrivals.

Even though Princess didn't like to be picked up, we chose her, or should I say she chose us? We can now hold her upside down like a baby and she often sits out with the rest of us in the living room. Princess is the matriarch of our fur family.