I TOLD you Mom would punish us for trying to paint the barn!

Pistolo Pietro ("Pete") and Quasar Star ("Q")

Photo by: Shary Russell, Lexington, Texas

Paw-purr-ee selection, December 7

A tisket, a tasket, fat cat in a basket

Sarge

Photo by: Janet Meeks, Katy, Texas

Paw-purr-ee selection, December 5

Pssst...some day I'll be big like you!

Panik and Havok

Photo by: Patricia Merry, Endwell, New York

Little Havok meets his big sister, Panik, for the first time.

Paw-purr-ee selection, November 30

Where are the fish?!

Trailer

Photo by: Sheri Innerarity, Smithville, Texas

Sheri notes that Trailer is "ancient" but that he can still balance nicely to get a cool drink!

Paw-purr-ee selection, November 30

Mom says this will make my eyes go bad, but I still have my tongue!

Bo the ball python

Photo by: Barbara Guckert, Alexandria, Virginia

OK, Odd Pets Week is over, but we had to share just one more. Barbara writes, "Rambo's (Bo for short) favorite pastime is watching TV from this old rocker. When he isn't watching TV he's watching the computer screen."

Wonder if he's watching Snakes on a Plane?

Paw-purr-ee selection, November 17

Wonderful blessings in small packages.

Chipper

Photo by: Sylvia Russell, Florence, Alabama

Says Sylvia, "'Chipper' has been our pet pal for a year now! When he first appeared he was just a baby! We put out pecans and raisins for him so he decided to STAY! We have a garden house which he has tunneled under and has several entrances and exits...amazing! When he comes out to play we can approach him quite freely and talk to him! My husband has Alzheimers and is now dealing with cancer, too. It has been a great daily routine for him to take the nuts and raisins to his feeding spot. Chipper has been a great blessing!! He's just the cutest thing ever!! We love him!!"

Paw-purr-ee selection, November 16

OK, the picture is a little dark...

Buckley and Rocky

Photo by: Bolivar Repair Shop, Bolivar, Tennessee

...but raccoons are nocturnal, right?

Paw-purr-ee selection, November 15

That's hilarious! Tell me another one!

Madeline

Photo by: Peggy Mills, San Francisco, California

Paw-purr-ee selection, November 8

Patriotic pet!

Stormy the Patriot

Photo by: Christine Montgomery, Midland, Texas

Stormy informs us that although his "pet human" Christine had him for several years prior, a few days after September 11, 2001, she noticed that Stormy was naturally red, white, and blue. "...Mostly white, with a turquoise blue stripe around my body. Being albino, I also had red eyes. Hence, I asked her to add "The Patriot" to my name. I am very proud and honored to have the name, Stormy the Patriot!"

Paw-purr-ee selection, November 7

The "star"-ling of the show

Tyler Bird

Photo by: Douglas Lawrence, Pacific City, Oregon

Lately we've received a number of, errr, "unusual" pets--many with wonderful stories of survival, strength and love. For example, meet Tyler the rainbow starling.

Doug writes, "Tyler Bird fell out of its nest shortly after birth. He was nursed to health, and has survived to his present age of 3.5 years. Like some other bird species, he is capable of talking, and has acquired quite a vocabulary of words and sounds. Among his favorites is to mimic the sound of the telephone, and the theme song of the 60's "Andy Griffith" television show. This was a wild bird at birth, who was rescued, and has become very much the domesticated pet as any other. From time to time he is let out of his cage, and is allowed to fly about the house, with not the slightest desire to leave his situation. He dines on small dog food, and copious amounts of water. He lives with four dogs and five cats very pleasantly!"

Paw-purr-ee selection, November 2