Pets/Wildlife

Miss Lucie is an 8-year-old golden retriever that arrived from Canada this past October. She happily spends her days chasing geckos instead of snowflakes in the backyard, loving the break from the winter weather. Her life as a snowbird seems to be pretty great! Miss Lucie lives in Dade City with her proud owners, Gilbert and Joanne Dionne.

This toad seems to be pondering how it got stuck on the back porch of the Rathman family home, in Land O’ Lakes.

Miss Mabel is a 9-year-old Maltipoo that came running up to her owner on the Mississippi River levy in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 2019. Mabel was homeless and in need of care, so Ester Ragolta flew back home with her to Land O’ Lakes. Miss Mabel loves to dress up and if she hears, ‘Let’s go shopping,’ she gets more excited than her humans do. Miss Mabel shares her home with Jackie, the cat.

Doris Moore snapped this photo of a bald eagle, a classic icon, by the backyard pond in her neighborhood of Northwood Palms in Wesley Chapel.

Patches and Willow were adopted five years ago. They are very active and love to look out the window at the pond, where they can see an abundance of birds, geckos and other wildlife. The sisters have lots of toys to play with and enjoy tossing them into the air. They are very lovable and have truly made their house a ‘home.’ Patches and Willow live with their owner Ginnie Traudt in Wesley Chapel.

This little blue heron was standing by a pond in Country Walk, in Wesley Chapel, when it approached Sharon Thompson, to take a look at her. The little blue heron is about 2 feet tall, and eats fish, crustaceans, amphibians, insects and reptiles. It stands in shallow water and waits for its prey to go by, and then it grabs its prey with its pointed bill.

Reba is a 2-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier that was rescued by the Cagle family last April as a stray. She loves people and animals alike. Although Reba loves to be around people and dogs, she never barks. She enjoys digging, running around with her tennis ball, and cuddling under the covers with anyone who is willing. Reba is a very good girl and lives with Josh and Alison Cagle, in San Antonio.

This wood stork’s fluffed-up chest feathers resemble a huge beard. Lillian Cucuzza, of Land O’ Lakes, had never seen a wood stork do this before and snapped the photo. Wood storks nest in tight colonies with egrets and herons and generally show little aggression, but if a bird or mammal threatens the stork, it may pull its neck in, fluff up their feathers, and walk toward the intruder.

Tank is a 5-year-old English bulldog that loves to sleep, eat, play, and repeat. His favorite food is whatever is for dinner. Tank likes to go for rides and to visit stores. He is always excited to meet new people and hates it when anybody is afraid of him. His favorite thing to do is to roughhouse with his human brother. Tank lives with his proud owner, Vondes Burnett, in Wesley Chapel.