Pets/Wildlife

Chance and Samantha are 9-month-old reverse brindle boxers, and are brother and sister. Born in Niceville, these pups were relocated to Lutz when they were 10 weeks old. They really wanted to be Pets of the Week because they love Lutz and all that it has to offer. And, both love their daily day care at Pet Paradise in Wesley Chapel. Chance and Samantha live with Jim and Lisa Patterson in Lutz.

Theresa Sierra, of Land O’ Lakes, caught this osprey still holding the tail of his lunch in his powerful claw. Ospreys search for fish by flying on steady wingbeats and bowed wings, or circling high in the sky over relatively shallow water. They often hover briefly before diving, feet first, to grab a fish. You can often clearly see an osprey’s catch in its talons, as the bird carries it back to a nest or perch.

Callie is a calico kitten who loves her family and always likes playing with her toys. She is a sweetheart and loves to play with her two other cat siblings, Dottie and Chester, too. Callie is (mostly) obedient, and even likes wearing colorful dresses. Callie is a rescue from a family who had too many kittens, but has now found her furever home with Joseph Zahrobsky and family, of Land O’ Lakes.

This Eastern bluebird couple has been visiting the feeders in Kimberly MacMartin’s backyard, in Lutz. Eastern bluebirds mostly eat insects, wild fruit and berries. Occasionally, they have been observed capturing and eating larger prey items, such as shrews, salamanders, snakes, lizards and tree frogs.

Mallie, Rascal and Lola stand at attention at the dog beach on Honeymoon Island, as they wait for a treat. Their owner said a photo of all three dogs together is rare! The trio lives with Mike and Renda Flowers in Wesley Chapel.

Karen Whitenton, of Lutz, snapped this photo of a female cardinal that had just finished eating and still had a few seeds on her beak. Female cardinals are beautiful, especially when they are sitting in the sun, as it makes their colors deeper and richer.

Echo is a tamed sun conure that was hatched on March 6, 2019. He came to his owners when he was 12 weeks old. Echo loves to chew natural balsa wood blocks, snuggle, play with other birds, and sleep on his back. He eats pellets, vegetables, some pumpkin seeds, and fruits. If you would like to see more of Echo and his flock, look him up on Instagram under apolo_birds. Echo lives with Wilmer Apolo in Land O’ Lakes.

Squirrels usually will try every trick in the book to steal from a bird feeder, and this one was caught in the act by Mario Arruda in his backyard, in Land O’ Lakes.

Rosie is a Doberman puppy and she is a little more than a year old. She is very tall and likes to poke her nose into everything. Rosie was originally the runt of her litter, but is now big enough that she was given the nickname, ‘baby giraffe.’ Her favorite trick is to ‘shake,’ and her favorite toy is her rubber giraffe. Rosie is the first one awake, bright and early at 5 a.m., to remind everyone it is time for her walk. Rosie’s favorite game is sneaking upstairs to the bedrooms, poking around in the laundry baskets to steal socks, and then being chased around the house so her owners can get the socks back. Rosie keeps life exciting for the Rowan family in Land O’ Lakes.

Sue Dowdie lives in Wesley Chapel, but took a jaunt down to Anna Maria Island where she snapped a photo of this snowy egret. She named him ‘Charlie,’ as he followed her around on the beach while she looked for seashells.