Another Weird Pet (Back Then)

 While David and I were newly married, my best friend showed up with a weird critter.  It was a ferret. 

While ferrets are common in pet stores these days, back in the 1970s they were practically unheard of. I thought it was so cool that I found one (I think Robyn, my friend, actually found it).  We named her Meshach.  She was very clever and active and fun.  And a few months later she disappeared in Robyn’s trailer house.  We thought she went through a small hole in the bathroom.  David made small holes in the bottom of the trailer, trying to find her.  We never did.  I cried for days.  I often wonder what happened. (Sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Rhoton for the holes we left in the trailer – they probably didn’t help the insulation).

A while later, we found another ferret for sale.  I was glad that Monamie was darker since Meshach had been white.  When we found Shawnicey, it didn't matter that he was white.  He was so playful!

      

Monamie

Shawnicey playing with my parents' puppy.

 

And then the Sheriff’s office was called because a woman woke up at a truckstop with a strange ‘rat-like’ animal sitting on her chest.  She was totally freaked!!  At the time, I was a dispatcher for the Department of Public Safety (Highway Patrol) and someone at the Sheriff’s office knew I had ferrets.  They called, after the one they had found was quarantined and no one claimed him, and asked if I wanted him.  Umm, of course I did.  At first, Shawnicey and Monte 'argued' a little and I figured it was just to establish pecking order, so we thought it would all work out.  Later, they were very aggressive with each other, so they couldn't be let out at the same time, and we had to have separate cages for them.

Monte (found at a truck stop) at the Sheriff's office in Williams.
We took Monamie and Shawnicey in to see if they would get along.

We thought three ferrets were enough (especially since the boys didn't get along), but then we met  a poor little ferret that I am sure had brain damage.  She was sweet, but seemed totally out of it a lot of the time.  All of the other ferrets accepted her, so she came to our house to live. 



Bandite, the weird little ferret.

We tried breeding them, and had one litter.  None of the babies survived, and we didn't want to go through that again, so we had them all neutered and descented – no, they weren’t sold that way back then -- which improved their smell considerably, though not completely.   Ferrets have a built in defense system similar to a skunk's. They have a very unpleasant odor when they become frightened, though not as strong as a skunk's and it dissipates a lot with soap and water.  Even descented, and in the best of circumstances, ferrets have a musky odor.  Sometimes, with some perfumes or colognes, I think of ferrets.

Shawnicey getting a 'bath.'

Our ferrets were smart.  They knew that they had to use the litter box before they could be out in the house.  They were pretty good about using it anyway, but it was a requirement before they could leave the cage.  They liked attention and they were fun to watch. Ferrets, handled a lot, are friendly and playful.  They are curious and like to investigate everything!

 

 

 

We had the ferrets long enough that our oldest son played with them.  While I've heard of ferrets hurting children, ours were friendly and liked attention.  We were always with our son when he handled the ferrets and it is very important to spend a lot of time with ferrets or any other exotic animal pet.

Picking the ferret up.

Carrying him around.

Putting him away (notice Monamie at his feet).

Something that was interesting to me was that, while I had never heard of ferrets before and a lot of people who saw us out walking our little business (group of ferrets), both of my grandfathers had had ferrets when they were younger.  My paternal grandfather had passed away, but my grandmother told how he had used ferrets for hunting rabbits.  He sent the ferret into the hole to chase the rabbit out.  He and other hunters would be at other rabbit holes and bag the rabbit as it came out.  Sometimes the ferret would catch a rabbit, eat it, and fall asleep in the hole.  Then my grandfather would go back later to get it when the ferret would make its way out. Who knew?!?  My maternal grandfather didn’t actually own the ferret, but he told how they used it in a factory where he worked to keep the vermin down.  My grandparents were not particularly impressed that we had them as pets.

We had them for about 8 years – They moved from Arizona to Virginia with us.  Three of them passed away (two were not babies when we got them – they were longer lived than the ones people get now). One of the ones who passed away had a tumor (I still have the x-ray somewhere), and I guess that is common even today. One we gave to my veterinarian’s kids when we were moving into an apartment in a different state (Missouri) and couldn’t take him.

I've been asked why we don't have them now.  I was glad that I had ferrets.  Because people started breeding them when they first became popular, ferrets now have many more health problems than they did at first - breeders don't always worry about inbreeding, breeding even if their animal has defects, etc. Also, my daughter had them for a while as a teen, and even with handling, they weren't as responsive as our first ones were.  I don't know if that is breeding, or because there are so many that they don't get attention when they are very young.  So, no ferrets for now.

I liked the uniqueness of the ferrets.  Each had its own personality, like all animals, and they were interesting.  I liked taking them for short walks (they kind of went their own way and I followed along so I guess they actually took ME for walks).  While we lived in Virginia, I took them to the Science Center and did presentations with them -- the pros and cons of having them.  Plus, I don’t know if I would have heard the stories about my grandfathers if I had not gotten them.  That might have made it worth it in any case!

 

A side note:  In the photo album where I found the pictures, I wrote, "We have talked about starting a small zoo with many unusual pets."  David won't confirm that he thought that, but it is there is writing! 

My Not Quite a Pet Exotic Pet - Sam

When I was in Junior High school, my dad opened a second hand store across town.  He was quite the wheeler-dealer and he ended up with a peculiar looking animal that he planned to put in the window to draw people into the store.

The owner of the animal brought it in and it got loose.  It went into a carpet roll or something like that and my dad told me to go in and get it.  I started to go and the guy said, “Hey, that animal bites, don’t send her after it.”  My dad said, “She can get it.” And I did.

One of my favorite people was the elementary school librarian (she was MY librarian when I was at the elementary school and my mom’s friend – my mom was a first grade teacher at the same school).  Mrs. Rush started researching to find out what this odd animal was.  After a couple of days she announced that it was a vulpine phalanger. 

 

Not long after that, a student from Northern Arizona University came by.  He was from Australia and he said, “I heard you had a vulpine phalanger – what would you want with one of those!!  They are real pests!  Farmers hate them!” 

 

Vulpine phalangers are marsupials and are sort of like our opossums.  They are considered to be nuisances.

Meanwhile, once Sam was put into his cage, my dad said that I shouldn’t try to handle him because I might get bit – go figure.  However, I worked at the store on Saturdays and my dad was barbering, so I would open the cage and give Sam carrots and other veggies.  I wasn’t disobedient enough to handle him, but he did get where he would come and sit by me because I gave him treats.

Aren't vulpine phalangers cute?!?

 

Maybe my dad got more cautious after he saw his teeth!

Eventually, my dad sold him (maybe he found out I was hand feeding him).  I was sad.

 A couple of guys from school came by and for the next four years (through junior high and high school) they called me Sam because of the vulpine phalanger. 

 

My First Exotic Pets

I’ve been told that I should tell some animal stories about my experiences with various animals.  While my mom and dad were not particularly interested in accumulating animals, they were always supportive of me.  The other day, a friend visited from Flagstaff (where I grew up) and said, “I just never imagined you on a farm.”  However, I don’t think my parents were surprised.

When I was eight, my dad ordered two chipmunks from the back of a Field and Stream magazine (or some similar magazine).  We’d always had dogs and cats and my uncle gave me his kids' rabbit (and dog) while they were out of town.  But the chipmunks were my first ‘exotic’ animals.

I was excited to get them!  They were so cute.  They came in a little cage. The cage probably wasn’t really big enough for them, but it had a wheel and a hideout and it came with them, so we thought they were fine.  I couldn’t wait to get my hands on them – until they bit me!  I was astonished and a little afraid.  I tried feeding them goodies, but I kept my hands well away from their vicious little teeth!

Then one Saturday in the summer, the East Flag's Kid’s Day Parade was happening!  Wallace and Ladmo would be there (they were two guys that had a kids’ show on TV that I watched) and there would be prizes for pets.  Pets in costumes, pets doing tricks, etc.  Well, how can anyone beat having pet chipmunks (even if they bit!!)?  That day I carried them around in a pocket and I had to handle them to show to various people.  By the end of the day, they didn’t bite anymore.  My sister and I also won a trophy for the “Smallest pet – Chipmunks.” 

Hard to read after all of these years, but it says,
East Flag Kids Day Parade
1964
Kathy & Julie Banning
Smallest Pet: Chipmunk

Sadly, chipmunks have a fairly short life span (about 4-6 years), but I carried them around with me after that – too bad I didn’t have a bonding bag, but we managed!

What I learned from that day at East Flagstaff Kids’ Day Parade was that it was fun to show off your pets.  But more importantly, I learned that you have to tough it out and handle the animal you bring home even if it bites.  I’ve been kicked, bitten, and scratched (There is a great book about a school for animal trainers by that name) and I’ve survived.  Usually, just like my chipmunks, once the animal finds that I won’t give up and I won’t hurt it, it calms down and I can handle it.  Most of the time the animal LIKES to be handled once we get past the biting.  They bite because they are afraid.  My job as their owner is to help them become less afraid and to trust me to protect them.  What I learned from those two little chipmunks had helped me deal with animals all these years!

GEE Funny Farm Meme Suggestions....

In our last blog, we asked for help with some meme suggestions from the pictures we posted or any on our Facebook page.  Here are some that were suggested for one picture:

The picture

Here are some of the suggestions:

Fun, huh?!?!  Feel free to try your hand.  Thanks to the people who came up with the ideas above (Bev and Erin).

GEE Funny Farm Memes

 A meme is a cultural item in the form of an image, video, phrase, etc., that is spread via the Internet and often altered in a creative or humorous way (Dictionary.com). I'm telling you that because when I was first told that we should make some, I didn't know what one was.

We’ve tried our hand at a few memes:

 

 

 

 

 However, we are sure that there are other clever ideas that could be passed down with pictures that we have.  We’d love for you to try your hand:

 

 

Have any ideas?  Or if you see a picture on our Facebook page, let me know your ideas for a meme.  We'll give you credit for the idea.  This could be fun; let's hear your ideas!!

Ideas for Your Visit to GEE Funny Farm

   We want your visit to GEE Funny Farm to be a fun and rewarding experience.  There are a few things you can do to help that to happen.

1.   Please bring cash to pay for your visit.  We don't accept credit cards or checks.  Sorry if this is inconvenient. It works for us.

2.   Talk to your children about the importance of obeying instructions about how to pet or hold the animal.  Talking to them ahead of time puts us on the same page when I give instructions --- though I’ve had very few problems.  People who come here like animals and want to do the right thing!

 

People who follow directions get to pet all kinds of interesting animals!

 

3.    If you aren’t sure of what the weather is going to be, plan accordingly.  Having a windbreaker or sweater is better than wrapping up in a blanket.  The blanket ends up getting flapped around when you are trying to pet the animals and that might make them nervous – and if it doesn’t, it makes me nervous.

 

Bringing jackets will make you more comfortable and
there won't be flapping blankets that might scare the animals or distract Kathy.

  

4.    We suggest that you wear closed toe shoes (not sandals or flip-flops) to protect your feet.  Goats, sheep, mini pigs, horses, donkeys, and llamas have hooves.  While they would not purposely step on anyone, they do move around sometimes and may step on your feet.  Even when you are sitting it is possible that your feet may find their way under the feet of the animal that we are moving as close to you as possible so you can pet it.

Wearing closed toe shoes (tennis shoes, steel toe shoes --
not sandals or flip-flops) will keep your feet and toes safe
when you are around hooved animals.

5.   Bring bug juice or sunscreen if you might need it – most of our property is wetlands (ie swamp) and it often rains, so it is possible that there will be mosquitoes or other annoying insects.  While you are under the canopy for the presentation, the hayride does not have shade and some people (like my grandsons) can get sunburned on sunny days (not that Wisconsin has that many, says the girl from Arizona).

 

You are in the shade under the canopy
(you might want to bring a chair if you don't want to sit on benches provided...
we're working on getting a few chairs for adults. 
These adults brought their camp chairs).

 

No shade when you are in the haywagon, except near a few trees. 
If you burn easily, you might want to apply sunscreen or bring it along.

 

6.    WASH YOUR HANDS!!  We provide warm water and goat milk soap for you to use, and we also have antibacterial soap you can use without water – however, soap and water works as well and doesn’t kill all of the good bacteria on your hands that help to build immunities.

a.     If you eat BEFORE the presentation – wash your hands.  Some little animals smell food and think you might taste good (at least this is what I’ve heard).  Larger animals who smell food will look through your pockets and sleeves and under your shirt trying to find what is making that yummy smell.  While this might seem funny, it is not how we like our animals to be trained.

b.      If you eat AFTER the presentation – wash your hands… people aren’t around animals like in the ‘olden’ days and immunities are not built up like your parents’ or your grandparents’ were – besides dirty hands are yucchy.  (Second verse same as the first...a little bit louder and a little bit worse...)

c.       If you don’t eat and just leave after the presentation – wash your hands… people aren’t around animals like in the ‘olden’ days and immunities are not built up like your parents’ or your grandparents’ were – besides dirty hands are yucchy. (Third verse same as the first...a little bit louder and a little bit worse...)

 

I know, it looks like a water cooler.  In this case it has warm water and
there are soap and paper towels next to it so hand washing is easy.

 

   There you go!  Six things can help you have a great time.  If you have other concerns, please feel free to contact us by email information@geefunnyfarm.com or phone 262-751-8328.

   We look forward to your visit!

An Educational Experience at a Parelli Natural Horsemanship Camp, Part 3 of 3

So, it is the final day of the camp.  Here's what happened...

Wednesday morning I showed up.  David had to go to Eau Claire the night before, so no pictures at all of this day.  Too bad.  We went out to the playground.  I worked to get Porthos into the water.  John came over and asked if I'd like help.  We worked and got Porthos into the water.  Then I did it myself.  Again and again.  It was easy.  Then we worked on the pedestal -- we got three of Porthos' big feet onto it at one time, and I was given ideas about how to work on that.  I rode Porthos and we played a mirror game with another horse/horseman team.  One would lead and the other would follow -- backing up, turning, going sideways, etc.  We did okay.  When the day was over, I was worried.  I have never been able to load Porthos by myself.  He doesn't really like the trailer.  He is BiG.  John came over and asked if I was okay.  I told him I was worried, but I thought I should try.  John said that was fine and he would be nearby if I needed help -- but I would have to ask.  Porthos didn't go in right away.  He would put one foot in and then back out.  That's okay.  It is advance and retreat.  He finally got in and I closed the divider to keep him is a smaller area toward the front (he is big enough he rocks the trailer when he moves).  It took me about five minutes.


So, the five days was hard.  I was not as good as everyone else.  I did talk to John about it.  I wondered when I saw the ad if I was good enough to attend.  I contacted John and asked what Parelli level you had to be at to attend.  He responded that it didn't matter.  The last day, before we got Porthos into the water, I told him I didn't think that was true.  I told him that I didn't feel like I belonged there.  John asked if I had learned anything during the five days.  I admitted that I had, but this wasn't really for Level One people.  He said, "But you aren't a Level One."  I was devastated -- I mean, there is no lower level.  He explained, "Kathy, you are way beyond Level One.  I knew it when you decided not to ride and you worked with Porthos on the mounting block.  You didn't throw a fit and you didn't give up.  You worked with him and now he stands still to be mounted.  You showed up when it was hard.  You are not a level One.  Now, let's get Porthos into the water."

 So, would I do it again?  Saturday through Tuesday, I'm not sure I would have said, "Yes."   Then, on Facebook someone posted a quote from Thomas S. Monson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (who was actually quoting Mary Anne Radmacher), “Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow."

I thought about all that I accomplished: Porthos will stand still when I mount from a mounting block; I can play the seven games much more fluidly and with clearer signals; I was even able to play the sixth of the seven games while riding (that is the sideways game) using only leg pressure; Porthos came to me to be haltered (even if it took 3.5 minutes, that was a lot better than when it used to take 30 minutes to convince him to get close enough to get a halter on); Porthos let me hose him off the last two days when we were done for the day; Porthos not only went into the trailer with only me there, but he came out of the trailer like a gentleman (instead of bursting out like a maniac).

Practicing the Sideways Game on the ground.

So, would I go again?  I still won't be the best, but I'll be better than I was.  I will try again.  I will be courageous.  Watch out, John and Kathy...I'll see you next year!

 

An Educational Experience at a Parelli Natural Horsemanship Camp, Part 2 of 3

...so after the first two days, I was feeling pretty sad.  Did I return for more?  I guess I AM a left brain introvert (Parelli personality portrait -- it mostly means that I'm stubborn and a perfectionist), because there I was at 9:00 am Monday morning, sitting in the classroom.

I showed up, and I was able to ride.  Sadly, no pictures of me on horseback since David was at work, but I did get to mount (and Porthos stood still).  However, it was embarrassing again since everyone was doing things I didn't know how to do -- I'd spent the time they had reviewed what little I knew about technique trying to work on Porthos standing still.  Kathy Baar came to my rescue, reviewing the pieces I knew and giving me a couple of 'assignments.'  So, I was still doing my own thing -- it is hard to be different.

 John and Kathy had offered private lessons after our camp, and they filled up immediately -- but then Monday they had an opening.  Kathy was much more personable than John (sorry, John) so I asked for a lesson with her.  Did I pick riding for the private lesson?  No.  One of the reasons Porthos wasn't safe to mount was because he refused to do things like the "Circling Game," which we've done many times. 

The circling game is one of the seven games that Pat Parelli says that horses play.  I couldn't see it when I started, but now, when I watch my horses I find myself thinking, "Oh!  That's the _____ game."  It is pretty cool. 

Anyway, I asked Kathy Baar to help me with the circling game -- it looks a lot like lunging, but it is different since the horse has responsibilities.  I felt slightly better when Kathy found Porthos to be pretty unresponsive.  I thought I was probably doing it all wrong, but my basic technique was fine, I just didn't know enough when he didn't cooperate.  After a bit, Kathy had him circling, changing direction, coming toward her respectfully (not plowing into her) - yay!  And then we took him to be hosed off -- which is the second thing with which I asked for help. 
 

Porthos shies away if I have a hose or sprinkler.  I like the idea of being able to hose him off because it gets so hot and it would help him to cool down, or keep him cooler when he is stuck in the trailer on a summer day.  I knew that I was supposed to use advance and retreat technique but couldn't figure out how to do it.  It was easier than I expected.  Kathy said that it was because I'd been working with him for three days.  Anyway, by the end of the hour, I was feeling better.

Day four (Tuesday) I was able to ride again.  And we went out to the 'playground' and Porthos did some things that the other horses did not want to do -- and he wouldn't do some things that the other horses would do.  One of the things was going into the water (he is just not a water guy, I guess).  John worked with another horse and I watched, hoping to get ideas about how to get Porthos into the water.

John working with the Friesian horse (also a big guy). 
He did go into the water, but David (our camera-man)
had to go back to work, so no pictures of this accomplishment.

 

 

 

Porthos going through the pool noodles. 
A lot of horses didn't want to do this. 
Porthos was a little nervous at first 
because the noodles blow around,
but by the last day, he was mouthing them
and bumping them --
playing with them, so that was fun!

 

Jumping onto the second highest terrace
(the terraces were sort of like a pyramid).

 

Coming off the lowest terrace after going up to the highest.

Walking over one of the bridges. 
Porthos would even back off of it. 



So, Tuesday, I was feeling slightly better, but then John had a 'competition.'  I only like competitions if I might win.  This was depressing.  There were two corrals and a rider would take her horse into the corral, take off the halter and lead rope, go out of the corral, go and stand near a orange cone, wait until the signal to go, and then run to the corral, get the horse to 'catch you.' halter the horse, lead the horse out of the corral as fast as you could, run to a pedestal and jump on (just the person, not the horse).  It was timed.  I did it in 3.5 minutes, which doesn't sound too bad because I only hobble along, not run -- however, the next slowest time was 2.5 minutes.  The fastest time was 39 seconds.  I hate being last.  I went back to the hotel and thought about not attending the last day.

Tune in tomorrow to find out what happens the last day....

An Educational Experience at a Parelli Natural Horsemanship Camp Part 1 of 3

When I started writing this, it was so long that I decided to break it up into three parts....

On June 20 (Friday), David hooked up my stock trailer to the pickup, we loaded Porthos, our Percheron cross, and we headed for The Horse First Farm south of Madison, WI for a five day Parelli Natural Horsemanship camp presented by John and Kathy Baar, 5 star and 4 star Parelli instructors.

We dropped Porthos off and headed to Madison for a good night's sleep.

On Saturday, June 21st, we showed up at the farm to meet the other participants.  I had been to a couple of two-three day workshops before, but the participants were all beginners and about where I was -- some were better at some things and worse at others, but we were pretty similar in ability.  Not so at this camp.  I was definitely out of my comfort zone.  Several of the people had shown horses and a few had attended workshops at the Parelli Ranch in Pagosa Springs, CO.  I'm still a beginner -- I like horses, but I have 35 other animals to take care of so I'm afraid that they aren't my life.  Up to now, the things I've learned at the workshops I had used to make Porthos safer to be around.  He is a pushy fellow and at 1800 pounds, he is a lot of horse!!  Parelli techniques has made him more enjoyable to be around at feeding time or when I'm working in the paddock or pastures in his presence.

 

A couple of different views of our
classroom where we started each day.

This camp was totally different.  I felt lost and confused after the first day and I didn't ride the first two days since Porthos did not pass the tests to be sure he was safe -- and I'm pretty apprehensive since my knee surgeries.  I'm not just cautious around Porthos, but around the sheep and goats who might bump me (they have never butted me, but they butt one another into me -- YIKES).  So, John gave me the goal of having Porthos stand at the mounting block without moving.  The first day while others rode, I played 'the friendly game' with Porthos (rubbing him) when he stood with any of his body near the mounting block - the goal was to have him walk, when I directed him to, little by little past the block where I was standing without moving his hindquarters away from me while everyone else rode their horses -- umm, embarrassing, yes.  Challenging, yes.  I felt like staying home (or the hotel) the next day.

Working with Porthos from the mounting block.



The second day (Sunday), while everyone rode, I started with the same goal--getting Porthos to stay still at the mounting block.  Then John told me to put my foot into the stirrup and take it out, bumping Porthos as I did it.  While some the games we played teaches the horse to move away from pressure, he wanted Porthos to NOT move from pressure if my foot bumped him when I mounted.  Then, I was to pull myself into the saddle and then get down.  So, picture two hours of almost mounting and then dismounting.  I thought I'd be lucky to walk the next day -- but training at the YMCA apparently paid off since I didn't get sore.

John giving me the next step --
putting my foot into the stirrup,
starting to mount, and getting down.

I didn't want to go back.  Two days and I didn't even get to ride.  What a bummer! 

Tune in tomorrow to see what happened next....

Book Review by guest writer Keegan Taylor--Enslaved by Ducks

 

 

 

Well, it’s been some time since our last book review, but your reviewer has just literally laughed out loud whilst reading the story Enslaved by Ducks by Bob Tarte. If you have ever owned one more pet than you planned, or if you have had an animal worm it’s way into your heart against your will, or if you have possibly owned six more animals than you planned (ahem, Kathy and David), then you may be able to relate to this book. Unlike Some We Eat (which we reviewed some months back), Enslaved by Ducks only makes the slightest pretense of being informative and no pretense of being scientific. All in all, it’s just a story of a city man turned country bumpkin, who soon finds himself overruled by (mostly) avian masters.

 

 One example of Tarte’s great sense of humor is his anecdote about trying to subtly out-do people in their pet ownership. He tells about sidling up to a woman buying dog food and sighing about how he can’t get a dog himself. She pats his arm sympathetically and says maybe someday he can, and then he (figuratively) pounces . . . listing off how he’s just too busy with his parrots, dove, ducks, geese, turkeys, rabbits, and cats. And he walks off in triumph. But, of course, it’s a lot funnier when he writes it, and if you’ve ever had something which you feel a little like gloating about then you’ll very likely be able to relate. We won’t say that this has ever been the case with a teenaged daughter of GEE Funny Farm owners, but we will just say that sometimes we suspect that some people really do feel and act this way.

 

 His anecdotes about his psychologist visits are less in our line of work (with animals), but can we just say that they, too, are so delightfully funny. What a wonderful character description! When the doctor reads off questions such as, “Do you hear voices? Do people follow you?” Tarte’s response? – Well, that’s just plain wit!

 

When thinking about my own review, I glanced at Goodreads to see what others were saying. Many people loved it. Many people were indifferent to it. Many people hated it. One of the things we noticed about Tarte’s early animal acquisitions that we knew would end in trouble was his lack of research. That is one of the issues we’re most passionate about: if you’re going to get an animal, then do the research! From dog to bunny to parrot to lizard, you need to know about that specific species’ temperament and needs. We couldn’t be mad at Tarte himself because it’s a mistake so many people make! We just hope that those who read the book will learn from his experience.

 

 Are the Tartes perfect pet-owners? Oh, no, they certainly make mistakes. Is everyone going to be able to relate to them? Probably not. If you don’t have much interest in pets, then this story probably won’t be for you. But all in all, they’re good-hearted people with a delightful, animal-loving story to tell, not unlike the Gees!