Pets/Wildlife

Sarah Swigart said her 9-year-old daughter, Claire, snapped this picture of a lizard on their patio, in their golf course neighborhood in Lutz. I wonder if the creature accompanies them on the golf course, as it seems to have its own transportation!

Sasha can say ‘I love you’ with a bark. She sits and gives her paw on command and loves to climb in bed and snuggle. She loves company, but doesn’t like when dogs pass by the house. Sasha’s owner, Linda Tuifel of Wesley Chapel, says, ‘If you have Sasha in your life, you will have unconditional love and all will be happy and good!’

Sue Dow captured this photo of a male and female wood duck in Zephyr Park in Zephyrhills. According to All About Birds, the wood duck is one of the most stunningly pretty of all waterfowl. Males are iridescent chestnut and green with ornate patterns on nearly every feather. These ducks like woodland ponds and river swamps so they can nest in nearby tree cavities.

Zander is a 1 year old Nebelung cat that was abandoned in a box on the side of the road as a kitten. The Eurell family took him in and he’s been a wonderful addition to their home. Zander is very friendly and loves reading The Laker. He lives with Owen Eurell in Land O’ Lakes.

A little bit of afternoon sun brightened up this cardinal that was chewing on a sunflower seed in Steve Vinik’s backyard in Lexington Oaks, Wesley Chapel.

Winston is an English mastiff and is 1 ½ years old. He loves to play in the water, particularly with the hose or sprinkler, and playing with his doggie friends at Courteous Canine. After a long day of playing, he enjoys napping and lounging at home. He lives up to the meaning of a ‘gentle giant.’ He lives with his ‘paw’rents, Erika and Jason Adipietro, in Lutz.

Jen McConnell snapped this photo of a red rat snake, also known as a red corn snake, at her home in Lake Padgett East in Land O’ Lakes. These snakes are found throughout Florida in virtually every terrestrial habitat from forests to agricultural lands and suburban neighborhoods. The diet of the red rat snake primarily consists of small mammals, lizards, birds and bird eggs. This species kills its prey by constriction, as they have no toxic venom or fangs.

Izabella, left, and Olivia are on squirrel patrol. Olivia joined the household in 2022 after another family pet passed away and she has blended in seamlessly. Izabella and Olivia live with Carol Scharfeld in Lutz.

Rebecca Cullen, of Land O’ Lakes, captured this beautiful portrait of a buck in the Grand Oaks community.

Mr. Pepe is an 18-year-old Quaker parrot. He has an incredible vocabulary and greets his owner, Judith DelValle, in the mornings with, ‘Good morning, Judi. How are you today? Did you sleep good?’ Mr. Pepe has lived with Judith since he was 4 weeks old. They reside in Wesley Chapel; Judith adores Mr. Pepe and cannot imagine her life without him. They occasionally converse throughout the day.