When then frolicking fun has ended, Charley retreats to her throne. Monkey finds his favorite toy: a bottle cap. No matter how fussy or clever another cat toy may be, Monkey is a bottle cap kind of guy. When he’s had his way with one, Jess is sure to replace with a fresh one. If not, Monkey will burst into a rendition of one of the seeming 300 “songs” he can create.

Indeed, Paula’s commitment to pets goes beyond her work as a technician at Carver Lake Veterinary Clinic; she simply loves dogs. And cats. It began after Hurricane Katrina devastated much of New Orleans and pets were being shipped to shelters around the country. Paula knew she had to participate; she would foster any dog that she could – provided she had the space in her home. Years later, when a little jumping bean named Matilda Joy Sunshine, landed in Paula’s home, she found herself about to break her other rule: No Labs and No Small Dogs.

With her 8 inch long nose and extensive, limber ears that flop about helping to scoop up the scent of her prey, Coco was focused on her occupation. She riveted her nose back to the ground so no rabbit would go unfound.

Annie’s eyes grew happy and wide. Somehow, somewhere during her short life, Annie had learned that the word “treat” and what came next. Rykken reached into her purse and withdrew a soft, juicy puppy bit. Annie inhaled the treat and – because she has above average intelligence – stuck her nose deep into Rykken’s purse.

As a youngster Ariot and her litter mate Boo were used as “fence testers.” When railings needed to be mended, the good architects of the farm would fix what they could see was broken. THEN! Ariot and Boo would be let loose inside the secured area. As master escape artists, Ariot and Boo could find any size hole or weak link and slither through or hop over it.

It all begins with an idea.

Willie, my golden retriever, died Sept. 7 (2016). Like other dog owners, I talked to him all the time, never truly knowing if he comprehended anything I was saying. Even though he's gone, there are a few more things I want to tell him:

Hey Willie, so what am I supposed to do now? After 13 years of having you by my side, in my Ridgeline, beside our bed, in every family setting I can think of?

I've been a zombie since you died, not knowing what to do with myself. Drove to Cannon Beach to spend my first full day without you. Weird to not have you running around, jumping in the surf, chasing seagulls, wondering when I'd give you a bite of whatever I was eating.

Does your bird have a tale? Let’s write it!

Does your horse have a tale? Let’s write it?

Does your rabbit have a tale? Let’s write it!