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

Happy Hallowee-guana!

Iggy

Photo by: Nancy Becker, Bethesda, Maryland

Says Nancy, "This is Iggy's IgWitch picture. Iggy is 12 years old, is 5 feet long and weighs 14 pounds."

Paw-purr-ee selection, October 31

Game, set, match, chew!

Rudy

Photo by: Ron Jacoby, Memphis, Tennessee

Paw-purr-ee selection, October 23

Mmmm, mmmm, good!

Bruce, the corn-eating cat!

Photo by: John Phillipson, Des Moines, Iowa

Paw-purr-ee selection, October 21

Think they’ll know which one I am?

Jacques

Photo by: Jack Woodrow, Boulder, Colorado

Paw-purr-ee selection, October 19

Ummm, that's good snowflake!

Raspy

Photo by: Lane Hoyt, Huntsville, Utah

Writes Lane, "Raspy will be four years old this month. Raspy has a smile that won't quit as you can see. He is a Malamute male with a great personality, who loves to run and roll in the snow or on the lawn. In the winter my daughter puts on a short pair of skies and Raspy pulls her around town on the snow packed roads. He's a great friend."

Paw-purr-ee Selection, October 17

Umm, actually, I believe I am allowed on the sofa. Right, Bruno?

Chessie

Photo by: Pat and Buck Buchanan, Fruita, Colorado

Pat writes, "This is Chessie. She was an only cat until Eleanor (cat) and Tango (dog) joined the household. She's still not fond of them, but likes the stuffed tiger on the couch."

Paw-purr-ee selection, October 16

Say cheese.

The Pez

Photo by: Denise Sanders, Mossville, Illinois

Says Denise, "The Pez is smilling as she does whenever anyone comes home."

Paw-purr-ee selection, October 15

My revenge will be almost as sweet as the jelly in this sandwich.

Jazz

Photo by: Bruce Carlson, Naples, Florida

Paw-purr-ee selection, October 13

What? What makes you think I was playing in the ocean?

Duff

Photo by: Deb Kalstrup, High Point, North Carolina

Deb writes: "This is Duff, our Australian mix puppy after a his first day at the beach. He rolled in the sand after each swim in the ocean, over and over again (as you can tell). He's so much fun and already a great swimmer. "

Paw-purr-ee selection, October 12th.

You talkin' to me?

Charlotte ("Charley" for short)

Photo by: Leroy White, Wilmington, Delaware

Charley is a nine-year-old umbrella cockatoo.

Paw-purr-ee selection, October 11

What? Kennel? Ha, you're real funny there, pal.

Rocky, Hurricane Katrina adoptee

Photo by: Katarina DiChiara, Lexington, Kentucky

Paw-purr-ee selection, October 10

Is that the JAWS theme music I hear?

Jenny

Photo by: Shirley Felton, Scottsdale, Arizona

Poodles ahoy! Jenny "loves to kayak," writes Shirley.

Paw-purr-ee selection, October 9

BFF: Best friends forever!

Portia and Jolly Rogers

Photo by: Brianna Ewert, Bradenton, Florida

Brianna writes, "This is a photo of two pets we adopted through rescue homes. Portia the American Bulldog takes care of, and tolerates Jolly Rogers’ surprise attacks. It is very common to find them resting together after a hard day of play. At this point we believe that Roger thinks he is a dog."

Paw-purr-ee selection, October 9

Pssst...cats rule, dogs drool!

Miss Molly and Cyrus

Photo by: Mignon Hogsed, Aiken, South Carolina

Says Mignon, "Miss Molly is a 12-week old kitten and Cyrus is a 7-year old Pit Bull. They are the best of buddies."

Paw-purr-ee selection, October 8

It's too early to get up!

Schatzie

Photo by: Elaine Dumas, Chicopee, Massachusetts

Look who's hogging the blankets! Or is that "dogging" the blankets :)

Paw-purr-ee selection, October 5

What?! You've never had a bad hair day?!

Lexie

Photo by: Lou Ann Davis, Richmond, Texas

Lexie is a Brussells Griffon.

Paw-purr-ee selection, October 4

Knock-knock...who's there?

Darling

Photo by: Anne Jeanblanc, Elizabeth, Illinois

Paw-purr-ee selection, October 4

On a 10-point cuteness scale, this is an 11!

Photo by: Susan Huffman, Science Hill, Kentucky

He's not heavy, he's my brother...and he is...and he is...and so forth and so on!

Paw-purr-ee selection, October 3

Yes, the gas is expensive but I look so good on it!

Baby

Photo by: Richard Moore, Lynn Haven, Florida

"Baby loves to ride his remote controlled Hummer in parades and on the beach," writes Richard.

Paw-purr-ee selection, October 2.

A close call!

Lizzie Pearl

Photo by: Diane Vasseur, Ocean Springs, Mississippi

Diane writes: Lizzie Pearl is a "nearly-starved stray we took in the day before Hurricane Katrina hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast. She has a sweet personality and was a welcomed addition to our family."

Paw-purr-ee selection, October 2.

This is low-fat milk, right? Oh, who cares.

Cassie

Photo by: Judy Hallowell, Fort Worth, Texas

Once Cassie "took over" Judy's daughter's frappucino, "the cat had full control long enough that we took about ten photos. She had foam all over her nose before she was finished!"

Paw-purr-ee selection, September 28

Oh yeah? Well you should see the OTHER dog!

Zara

Photo by: Diana Harris, Gwynn Oak, Maryland

Says Diana, "Zara is 2 1/2 years old, a mixed Shepherd/Rottweiler. She had some minor surgery and had to wear her 'Party Hat' as we called it." (Looks like the "party" pooped poor Zara!)

Paw-purr-ee selection, September 27

Sweet dreams!

Gracie

Photo by: Suzanne Sordo, Plantation, Florida

Paw-purr-ee selection September 25th.

Free bird!

Cutie the parrot

Photo by: Glenna Leonhardt, Clearlake Oaks, California

Cutie's buddy is Poppy the parakeet.

Paw-purr-ee selection September 25.

Best friends forever!

Photo by: Ken and Valerie Greenfield, Bay City, Oregon

Paw-purr-ee selection September 24th.

I said kitty "litter," not "critter!"

Gwyndolyn (cat) and Rex (iguana)

Photo by: Meredith Alleruzzo, Pasadena, California

Says Meredith, "Gwyndolyn and Rex have made peace and found a way to live together. Rex's hobbies include cycling and computer programming. Gwyndolyn's hobbies are food, keeping out of Rex's sunspots on the floor, and speech/communications. They are sooo cute!"

Paw-purr-ee selection September 21st.

Maybe we should move away from that nuclear plant!

Frosty and Bandit

Photo by: Nancy Ellis, Mesa, Arizona

Frosty and Bandit are "purebred mutts from the pound" who love to sleep on top of each other. They "make the very best of friends."

Paw-purr-ee selection September 21st.

Why don't ewe and I play Leap-sheep?!

Gouda the goat and friends

Photo by: Robert and Margaret Andrews, Haines, Alaska

Says Margaret, "Gouda spent the day jumping from one sheep to the other. The tan faced ewe had triplet lambs the next day. Not sure if the jumping on and off of the goat led to them coming sooner! But the goat sure had fun!"

Paw-purr-ee selection September 20th.

Paw-purr-ee: More fun photos

Wow, do AARP members have a lot of adorable pets! In fact, we’ve gotten so many wonderful submissions (thousands of them in fact!) that we’ve created an additional category, Paw-purr-ee, to show off more of the smiling snouts, pudgy paws, and fuzzy faces you’ve sent us!

The selections for Paw-purr-ee are still eligible to be Daily, Weekly and Grand Prize Winners—we just thought we’d give you a sneak peek first!

Don't forget -- we're using your comments to help us pick the Weekly Winner. Got a funny caption or quote for a picture? Does a photo remind you of a celebrity?

Check back each day and click on the Comments link below each photo and tell us what you think!