The Penn professors had recently moved into a large Victorian-era house with Monkey, their 2-year-old gray tabby. He was small, lively and very cute. His special talent was scaling the seemingly impossible, a penchant aided by an extra toe on each snowy front paw. Monkey’s new home was a paradise of tall windows, stairways, mantels, […]
Friendly, sweet-natured Periwinkle spent the pandemic years holding down a sofa, a commitment on full display the afternoon I met with her owner. She did not budge when I knocked on the front door and, amazingly, did not bark. Around the open living area were bags of dog food and assorted treats, most within reach
Princess Drop & Drag Read More »
Homer was 7 years old when we met, a short-legged roly-poly terrier mix with coarse grizzled fur, a black nose, and bright dark eyes under bushy brows. He looked like an animated stuffed animal yet behaved at times like a Borgia having a bad hair day. Homer and his owner were very unhappy. She was
The Mischief-Maker Read More »
Standing between the kitchen sink and Sapphire’s feeding station is an island regularly used by a pet owner who loves to cook and a cat that appreciates its value as a social platform perfectly suited to her pint-size flair for brand placement. Of course, taking a walk on the countertop would be a mere trifle
Confident, athletic, and clever, Pepper’s adolescence had been particularly vexing for his owner, a busy corporate executive who desired the companionship of a dog without realizing how trying it can be to raise one. She had adopted Pepper at 6 months wanting to bypass the demands of house training, while hoping they could skip right
Turnabout is Fair Play Read More »
The first time I cared for Harry, he didn’t use his litter box until the third day. A big relief for both of us. Until then I was patting down patterned rugs, soft furnishings, checking under beds and inside closets convinced I would find proof Harry was thinking outside the box. He wasn’t and that
The Litter Box Withholder Read More »
The publicity photo of Babe is from an earlier victory, before she swept the field to win her first national field trial championship in June of 1996, days before we met. Her owner was and is a wealthy philanthropist and renowned dog handler who hired me to walk Babe every weeknight at 10pm. I was
Harley’s Big Splash Read More »
On the several occasions Harold’s doting owners traveled together, their beloved tabby would make himself personally available only to sink his teeth into me. In Harold’s contrary world there were two kinds of people: the owners who loved and accepted him and the soft targets who visited. Among the latter group he was known as
Why Harold Had So Few Friends Read More »
Mister was eager, friendly, outgoing, and a world-class trash can raider. The latter was an addictive practice that occasionally broke my schedule when his owner forgot to relocate the kitchen trash can to a nearby closet. In 1995 Mister was two-years-old and eighty pounds of glossy black handsomeness. To my everlasting regret, the photo is
Snow Is Better With a Dog Read More »
When I met Rosie in 1995, my head was still in the clouds as the first pet sitter to be named “Best of Philly.” This is the cat I credit with keeping me humble during those heady days. At the meet & greet her owners warned their beloved cat had issues while 3-year-old Rosie crouched
About a Cat and an Umbrella Read More »
Scout’s owners wanted their little dog to “talk” to them. Welcomed into their hearts and home at 9 weeks of age, Scout had reached the 16 week mark without a single woof. And the owners wanted very much to hear from her. Which they did about a month later when Mr. Doorbell beckoned and Scout
When I’m Calling Yoouuu! Read More »
This story is from Philly in the 90s, back when it took days to process the film used to capture a puppy moment. The original image is so small and fuzzy, the puppy has been inset with an X to mark the spot he rested his butt all those years ago. The puppy is Shane
Housetraining @*#?!! Read More »
