Adopting a Bengal cat is perhaps the closest the average person can get to owning a wild animal. The result of breeding Asian leopard cats, a small wild feline species native to Asia, with domestic cats, Bengals sport leopard-like spots and marbled rosettes on their coats of various shades of gray, brown or white. The breed has…

  The German word pudeln means “to splash in water,” and is the root origin for the word poodle. Standard poodles were first bred in Germany as water retrieving hunting dogs. Originated by standard poodles, miniature poodles were developed through selective breeding in France and throughout Europe. Miniature or mini poodles were used to sniff…

Tuxedo cats are popular family pets and have made their way into pop culture: Sylvester from Looney Tunes and The Cat in the Hat, to name two. Known for their elegant black and white coats resembling formal wear, tuxedo cats or “tuxies” have been companions to historical figures like William Shakespeare and Mark Twain. The…

  Paisley is an energetic 3-year-old black and tan Pembroke Welsh corgi with spirits as high as she can jump. Her bold and confident personality makes up for her small and sturdy frame. Corgis are not a new breed to Paisley’s family, Richard and Julie Storick, of the Esperanza neighborhood. Paisley is the first female…

In the wild, Syrian hamsters are one of the rarest hamster species. Native to the deserts of Syria, they were almost hunted to extinction in the 1920s. Today, the Syrian hamster, also known as golden or teddy bear hamsters, are a popular household pet. The Jubenville family—Ashley, Ben, Sadie (7) and Micah (11)—of the Esparanza…

Grace is a 4-year-old English Labrador retriever with a sunny personality just as bright as her yellow coat. She has a big heart, adventurous spirit and is the baby of Kelly Duman, Trent Schield and their blended family of boys Vann (23), Brayden (21), Levi (18), Preston (18) and Colton (16). In 2020, Brayden wanted…