Pets/Wildlife

Sadie is an 8-month-old mini goldendoodle. She is so smart her owner decided to train her to be a service dog for herself. In the first six months of training, Sadie has learned how to “get it, bring it and give it,” and will learn how to help with medication reminders, too. Sadie gets spoiled at home by her mommy, daddy and two human brothers. She also has a parrot brother, Loki, a fun playmate. Sadie lives in Wesley Chapel with Lauren Harkness, who has always owned parakeets and parrots, but said getting Sadie was one of the best things she has ever done in her life.

Cindy Korman said two owlets have grown up in her Zephyrhills community. Little owls are year-round residents of their habitats and may live as long as 16 years. Owlets eat insects, small mammals, birds and reptiles.

Sir Winston is a loving, smart and sassy Pembroke Welsh Corgi who goes to college — he attends Florida Southern College as an emotional support animal for Madison Meisenbach. While Sir Winston had a bad case of the puppy bites and didn’t like school, he has now learned to love college life. He enjoys walking around the lake, meeting new people, and doing tricks for kibbles. Sir Winston and Meisenbach both will graduate this December. Who knows where their journey will take them, but in Winston’s mind, it will be a place with lots of people, more kibbles and a big backyard! Sir Winston lives in Lutz.

Will Kuhns snapped this crow taking a dip in the Ballantrae neighborhood in Land O’ Lakes. American crows are large, intelligent, all-black birds with hoarse, cawing voices. They are common sights in treetops, fields and roadsides, and in habitats ranging from open woods and empty beaches to town centers. They usually feed on the ground and eat almost anything.

Five-year-old Shealina was adopted from Pasco County Animal Services a few years ago. She loves playing with her toys and lives with her proud parents, Frank and Nicole Magazu, in Land O’ Lakes.

This mama black-bellied whistling duck proudly showed off her babies — teaching them to swim and catch a few bugs along the way. Bonnie Caston said this is nature at its best in her backyard in Zephyrhills.

Piper is a pure-bred English Setter born in July 2023 in Maryland alongside a litter of six brothers and sisters. She officially moved to Florida in August 2023 with her human parents, and is looking forward to having warm-weather year-round. Piper’s interests include playing tug-of-war, chewing on her large collection of dog toys, snacking and napping. She hopes to someday be fully potty-trained, and wants to learn other commands when she gets older. Piper lives with her proud owner, Kevin Weiss, in Zephyrhills.

This juvenile male Northern Cardinal was spotted by David Maynard in a San Antonio backyard. Juvenile cardinals look similar to adults in size and shape but lack red plumage until around November (some six or seven months after the breeding season). The tail usually turns red first.

Pearl is a corgi and Henley was adopted from the Humane Society, but his parents just call him a mini golden retriever with a heart of gold. The two canines love playing together, chasing squirrels in the backyard and following their three ‘siblings’ around the house, just in case they drop a snack! Pearl and Henley live with the Hudson family — Derek, Aubrey, Maddox, Everett and Evelyn — in Land O’ Lakes.

Tom Hammen ‘snapped’ this photo of an alligator catching its breakfast, at the pond on 17th Street, off Lock Street, in Dade City. It appears to be a capybara caught in the gator’s jaws.