Rhett Fischer
Article Category: Pet of the Month
Raleigh By Rhett Fischer After finally finding the Jack Russell ad we were waiting for, my ex-girlfriend and I made the trip to Sebastian to pick up our boy. He was known to his owner as “The Talker,” and we soon found out why. To this day, after two years of life, this dog still talks in strange, cute ways. This is the pet you look forward to coming home to. Every day, I can’t wait to see him waiting at he door for my arrival. A good friend likes to call him “Chase”... [Read more...]
Jessica Iliev
Article Category: Pet of the Month
Small Dog, Big Personality By Jessica Iliev His name is Huli ‘Uli’Uli I’lio, and he’s the best birthday present I’v had so far. It means “roll over, brown dog” in Hawaiian, but his friends call him Uli for short. Uli is supposed to be a miniature dachshund, but he’s little bit too big to be called miniature. He was born on the Big Island of Hawaii, but Eric found him on Oahu for my birthday two years ago when he was only six-weeks-old. Uli grew up... [Read more...]
Kate Flack
Article Category: Pet of the Month
Lucky Words and photos by Kate Flack Just short of 15 years ago, Mark Longenecker was hanging out at a South Beach diner in Miami when he spotted a spotted dog in need of a new spot to lay his spotty head. He came with a name and a collar, and seemed to be simply unwanted by his owner. His name was Lucky. The girl in the diner who knew Mark knew he would be a sucker for the pooch, and so he was. Lucky got lucky that day and Mark accepted responsibility for his first dog ever that day, and stands... [Read more...]
Vanessa Bormann
Article Category: Pet of the Month
Happiness is a Puppy Words and Photos by Vanessa Bormann We got Sadie partly out of grief, which I’m not apologetic for; she was almost named “Happy” because that’s what she’s made us again. A few weeks ago while I was in Wisconsin on a family trip, John called me during a Brewers game to tell me our cat, Foxy, who had been missing for 24 hours, was no longer missing; she was dead. The idea of coming home to an empty apartment, visiting the grave John’s family dug... [Read more...]
Courtney Dutson
Article Category: Pet of the Month
COSMOS By Courtney Dutson; Photos by Kate Flack It took Tom Barrett two whole years of hard work to acquire his beloved pet Cosmos. A Brevard native, Tom has always been in tune with the flora and fauna of our seaside environment. So he was quick to notice when the non-native, Bahamian Curly-Tailed Lizard migrated from South Florida (the site of their initial release on the U.S. mainland in the 1940s) and took up residence in Cocoa Beach within recent years. He became fascinated with the new lizard,... [Read more...]
Brendhan Bennison
Article Category: Pet of the Month
When your best pal disappears in the wee hours of the night it can be cause for great consternation. But when your best pal disappears and six days and six nights go by without any sign of him, it can be downright devastating. It was nearly dawn when I came home from a long trip down to Miami to retrieve two friends on a visit from Australia. It was late and we were tired once we got back to Cocoa Beach where I was house and dog sitting for some friends who live on the Banana River. When I arrived,... [Read more...]
M. Alberto Rivera
Article Category: Pet of the Month
Repeat After Me By M. Alberto Rivera; Photos by Kate Flack My parents, Dr. Miguel Rivera and his wife Alis, have cared for Koh’lohe and Kui’ipo since 1968. When you’ve lived with an animal for 43 years, what story do you start with? The best one, of course. In December 1974, my father answered a knock at the door to discover a police officer and a representative from the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, both with stern expressions. “Sir, we’re here... [Read more...]
Kate Flack
Article Category: Pet of the Month
Thunder & Cheyenne • Words and photos by Kate Flack • Prior to entering the home of Patti and Ryan Spadafora-Wilson, I was admittedly a little nervous. I was there to photograph and “interview” their two wolves as candidates for “Pet of the Month.” Upon entering, I realized how silly this thought was as one of the sweetest, most gentle fluffy creatures greeted me at the door — all 40 lbs. of her — and I couldn’t help but think just how much this... [Read more...]
Scooter Newell
Article Category: Pet of the Month
Gizmo • Words and Photos by Scooter Newell • For the last few months Esteban Velez has been dog sitting for his mother Rosa in Cape Canaveral. Gizmo, named for his resemblance to “Gizmo” from the movie “Gremlins,” has had quite the life in his short six or so years on earth. Rosa brought Gizmo in to give him a comfortable life — “rescued” him from an acquaintance, you might say — and Gizmo has been at her side ever since. However, a recent job... [Read more...]
Kate Flack
Article Category: Pet of the Month
LEAH Even at 84 years of age (people years, folks…for dogs that equals 12), Leah — a Jack Russell terrier — inspires her person, Courtney Dutson, still nearly every day with her adaptability to new surroundings. Best buds since the fifth week of little Leah’s life, Courtney was 16 when her mom surprised her with the pup for Christmas. An avid competitive equestrian, Courtney grew up on 15 acres surrounded by horses where Jack Russells were as much a requirement as a saddle and reins.... [Read more...]
