Halley came into our lives like a comet. Or maybe a meteor. Or more specifically a meteorite, as she landed in our family with quite an impact. I didn’t realize how much of an impact that would be, even after I named her after Halley’s comet. (In case you’re wondering, Halley rhymes with alley, not daily.)  […]

Lilah is a small border collie mix, with glossy, obsidian-black fur, a sweeping silky tail and eyes the color of caramels. She walks on paws so silent, you’d think she’s part cat. She’s a stealth dog, her dark coat enabling her to disappear into the dark; Lilah means “night” in Hebrew. Lilah came to us, along […]

Wherever we go, the response is nearly the same. What kind of dog is he? Jasper draws stares, comments and tons of compliments at the dog park, pet store and vet’s office. A very leggy dog, Jasper brings to mind the AT-AT battle walkers featured in The Empire Strikes Back.  (My inner geek is showing,  I know.)  […]

Life with Dogs and Cats: Dawn

Her words are measured and parsed, quietly and only at the appropriate times. If there’s too much noise in the room, you might not even hear her. Athena speaks softy. She is tidy, thoughtful and methodical. Every move is calculated, purposeful and intended. She meant to do it. Athena plans carefully. Unless she’s chasing her sister […]

  At Camp Bow Wow, they call him “the gentleman.” At home, I believe Jasper and Lilah refer to him as “the brat.” And I’ve had it on good authority that Dawn and Athena call him “That Dog”—as in, “Crap! It’s That Dog again.”   Lilah as a pillow for her brother.   I’m talking […]

If you’re a fan of the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson, you may have an idea where our only male cat got his name. You might wonder though, why I named the cat after the human character, Calvin, instead of the more likely stuffed tiger Hobbes. But then if you met our […]

Elsa Clair is has the black and white splotchy markings of a Holstein cow. She has a half-mask; her left eye peers from a triangle of white fur, and her right eye from a black patch, which features a tiny extra drop of black, like she’s crying one black tear. When she runs, which is […]