Pets/Wildlife

Salem was adopted from the Humane Society and is 1 ½ years old. His owner adopted him the day before Halloween, so Salem seemed like the perfect name. Unlike most cats, Salem is very outgoing. He loves being around people and isn’t afraid to make new friends. Salem may be an all-black cat, but he is the opposite of ‘unlucky.’ Salem lives with his proud owner, Savannah Brotherton, in Wesley Chapel.

Lemon is a Weimaraner and is almost 12 years old. He loves sunbathing, treats, and attention. He is a great big brother to his three human siblings. Lennon is a part of the Kholikov family and lives in Seven Oaks in Wesley Chapel.

Mark McEachern originally thought there was a snake in this oak tree in his yard, when he saw a tail hanging down, only to find out it belonged to an opossum. McEachern lives on Lake Saxon in Lake Padgett Estates, in Land O’ Lakes.

Jake is a 3 ½-year-old loveable, friendly and photogenic boxer pit mix that happened to find his furever home after his owners went on a date night trip to the local 7-Eleven for a late night Slurpee treat. He has blended in smoothly with his doggy brother, Jagger, and big sis, Stella. Jake lives in Zephyrhills with his excited owners, Tonya and Slick Pollard.

This yellow-throated warbler visited the suet feeder in the backyard of Lillian Cucuzza, in Land O’ Lakes. These warblers may use bird feeders on occasion, but a landscape with native trees and shrubs can provide a habitat for them.

Harvey is a 9-year-old blue Merle Australian shepherd that spends his days chasing birds and squirrels (but never catching them) with his partner in crime, Leia, a miniature Aussie. Harvey is fond of carrying shoes around, and he likes to raid the recycling bin for chew toys . He also  loves to go for walks in his neighborhood. Harvey lives with the family of Dale and Debra Hamilton, in San Antonio.

This pair of red-shouldered hawks recently visited Robin and John Phillips, at their home in Valencia Gardens in Land O’ Lakes. Male and female red-shouldered hawks look alike. The hawks’ breeding season in Florida is January through May. Hawk pairs are monogamous throughout their life, but will find another mate if one dies.

Georgia is a maltipoo and a true blessing to her family. She celebrated her fifth birthday the day after Christmas. Georgia happily spends her days playing with her toys (which she doesn’t share very well) and likes to hang out on the patio, in her ‘happy place.’ Miss Georgia lives with her proud owners, Bobby and Karen Cornelius, in Lake Jovita, in Dade City.

Steve Hadley snapped a photo of this two-tailed lizard on the screen outside his house, in Connerton in Land O’ Lakes. According to AnoleAnnals.org, two-tailed (or occasionally even three-tailed) lizards are not all that uncommon. Most lizards can lose their tails and regrow a new one. The middle of each vertebra in the tail is a zone of weakness (or breakage plane), pre-made to easily fracture. When this happens, the signal goes out, and new tail construction begins. Occasionally it doesn’t quite work; the tail is only partially broken, and doesn’t come off, but enough is broken that new tail growth begins. New tails do not regrow the original vertebrae made of bone. Rather, they grow as one long, cartilaginous rod, according to the website. So, one can easily tell the new tail from the old one.

Evie is the best pet ever, according to her owner, Madison Boatright. This 6-year-old rabbit loves to give morning kisses, friendly snorts, cuddle and play. She enjoys chilling out in her tunnel or hopping around in her pen. If she escapes her pen, Evie can be found lying on the couch. When she wants to play, she nibbles at her cage to be let out. Boatright is a student at Turner Bartels Middle School in New Tampa, and her teacher, Bryndi Colwell, said her students read the newspaper and asked if they could submit photos of their pets.