Table of contents for Jan/Feb 2022 in All Creatures

IT WAS NEW YEAR’S EVE 2012. Dave and I were engaged and living in our 520-square-foot condo in Hoboken, New Jersey. The past three months had been stressful. Hurricane Sandy trapped Dave’s dad on his roof; he had to be rescued by helicopter. Wedding planning kept my stomach in knots. Even Christmas was tiring, rushing around to all four families (both sets of parents are divorced) with our newly adopted puppy. I couldn’t wait to ring in the New Year with our friends. I wanted to let loose and celebrate. “Charlie will be okay, right?” I asked Dave (again). “He’ll just sleep in his favorite spot,” Dave assured me. He was lying on the couch, flipping through TV channels. Around six I hopped in the shower. Dave didn’t need much…

Let the Good Times Roll Seals are agile and acrobatic in the water but clumsy on land. That didn’t stop this young seal from flopping around on the beach like it’s the best day ever. Give a Hoot Snowy owls like to sit on or near the ground. Even when they are flying, they stay low, closer to prey. Waddle This Way A penguin’s distinctive gait might look inefficient to us, but rocking side to side helps it recover up to 80 percent of the energy expended on each stride. All Smiles The ostrich has the largest eyes of any land animal. Its diet consists mostly of plants but it will also eat insects and small reptiles. Sweet Dreams Cats average 15 hours of sleep a day. They are crepuscular…

DOGS AND CATS aren’t the only pets who deserve a cozy place to sleep. These adorable pint-size beds for hamsters, gerbils, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits and other small companions don’t just make us smile. They are also beneficial to pets. Whether they’re snug and fluffy to offer warmth or a bit roomier to allow air to circulate, tiny beds help regulate an animal’s temperature. They’re also a comfortable, secure spot—perfect for burrowing—where our smallest friends can feel calm and safe. These beds are dust-free, which is good for an animal’s respiratory system, and easy to clean—most can be tossed into the washing machine. The best part? The variety of styles! Find one in the shape of your hamster’s favorite fruit or hang a suspended bed to give your hedgehog a…

My 13-year-old son, Anthony, jumped out of bed one morning in March 2020 and asked me the question he’d asked every day for the last eight weeks. “Are we going to pick up the dog today?” Two months earlier, a couple from Texas had reached out to me on social media. Their goldendoodle was pregnant, and they wanted to give us one of the puppies as soon as they were weaned. I wasn’t sure. As a single dad, I had my hands full. I had been struggling with getting Anthony, whom I’d recently adopted, to trust that I was his forever family. Besides, I hadn’t grown up with pets. I hadn’t grown up with much of anything. I grew up in Uganda. My family was so poor that there wasn’t…

I pulled the barn door closed behind me, shutting out the bitter January cold and swirling snow. The ewe was on the floor of her stall, her head resting on a patch of straw. I stared at her swollen belly. What a time to give birth, I thought. Her flanks heaved. Any time now. I saw the strain in her eyes and reached down to stroke her side. She snapped at my hand. I pulled back. Whatever made Henry and me think we could raise sheep? I wondered. Or do any of this—build a log house, grow our own food, keep livestock for milk and eggs? I WAS A CITY GIRL, but I’d always dreamed of moving to the country and living off the land. God’s land. After my kids…

After 32 years in the same house, my husband, Mike, and I packed up our (many) belongings and moved to a new town. It was a big deal. There was doubt, confusion and worry. And I’m not just talking about us. Our two dogs, Ernest and Petey, didn’t know what was happening and they were stressed. We found a few ways to make the transition smoother for our furry family members. Here’s how you can too. Stick to routines as much as possible. Petey and Ernest go on high alert when they see us packing suitcases for vacation, so imagine how they felt when we started filling boxes with everything from curtains to dishes. Your pet may become clingy, nervous or needy. Try to maintain their regular routine. If your…

MY HUSBAND, ERIC, and I were on a no-kids anniversary trip in Hawaii. We were on a catamaran, sightseeing in Kauai and having the best time until our 20-year-old son, Jordan, texted. “I fell playing football,” he said. He sent a photo of his swollen, misshapen arm. A trip to the ER confirmed it was broken. He had a surgery consult appointment that afternoon. I offered to attend the appointment via Zoom, but Jordan texted, “No, Mom, I’ve got this.” “How will he know what questions to ask the doctor?” I said. Eric reminded me Jordan was an adult. So what? I was his mom. It was my job to protect him! I sat on that boat, worrying and wishing I was home in Indiana with my firstborn. Our tour…

A nurse by trade, Sarah Dobbrastine of Traverse City, Michigan, never expected to run a dog rescue. But as she began taking in surrendered northern breeds whose owners had difficulty handling them, she realized her true purpose was to help these dogs live out their purpose on the trails. Second Chance Mushers Rescue was born not only to provide a place for these high-energy canines, but also to educate folks about what these animals can do and how rescue dogs can thrive. Sarah is dedicated to showing these dogs—unwanted, neglected, unwell—that life can be full of adventure. I was lucky enough to visit her rescue and take a sled ride, where I witnessed these dogs living their full potential. It was exhilarating and, afterward, I got a chance to ask…

Excitedly, a tour member points up to a second-floor window, alerting the rest of the sidewalk parade that furry white Pickles has made an appearance. Later, someone else shouts that Bob the Siamese has emerged from behind the drapes. A few houses down, a friendly cat mom carries out her Maine Coon and the crowd, led by a man whose sign says, “Show Us Your Cat,” goes wild. This strange suburban safari plays out annually in a Minneapolis neighborhood called The Wedge (for its shape), thanks to tour founder and organizer John Edwards. John moved from South Florida to Minneapolis in part because he wanted to live without a car. While walking and biking around his neighborhood, designated a historic district due to its many 100-year-old homes and apartment buildings,…