Pets/Wildlife

Lady Glitter Sparkles is a 2-year-old Shih Tzu/Pomeranian. Lady loves treats and squeaky toys. Pooka is a 10-year-old Snoodle (Schnauzer/poodle) that likes to take car rides and naps. Together, Lady and Pooka enjoy barking at doorbells, squirrels and lizards. Their proud owners are Greg, Maria, Eddie and Yana Greskowiak, of Land O’ Lakes.

Nicole T. Magazu, of Land O’ Lakes, captured this cardinal perched upon a porch railing. Male cardinals are brilliant red all over, with a reddish bill and black face immediately around the bill. Females are pale brown overall with warm reddish tinges in the wings, tail and crest. Both have the same black face and red-orange bill.

Yoshi is a 9-year-old Yorkie poo. She was rescued from the Lakeland ASPC. Yoshi does many funny things. Her favorite pose is legs out front and her butt in the air. Yoshi’s proud owner is Brenda Harrelson, of Wesley Chapel.

This little turtle, no bigger than a quarter, was by Sharon Thompson’s koi pond, in Wesley Chapel. Thompson believes it is a Suwannee Cooter turtle.

Mojo is a 3-year-old Havanese. He is wearing his bomber jacket on a cold morning in Land O’ Lakes. Mojo recently won a second ribbon in his first agility competition, at which the jump bars are set at 8 inches for him. Mojo’s proud owner is Jo Rider.

Leona Shuler recently moved to Wesley Chapel from New York City and was pleasantly surprised when one of her first visitors was a one-legged crane. Shuler watched from her patio as the crane fed on whatever it dug up from the edge of the pond and then flew off. Schuler thought it was amazing.

Gozer is a 2-year-old baby ball python. He was named for the Ghostbusters’ villain and resides happily with the Dawson family, in Lutz.

K.P. Sheka took this photo in his backyard in Estancia, in Wesley Chapel. It seems the gator caught quite a mouthful for lunch.

Sami Kallio snapped this photo of a lizard in Dupree Lakes in Land O’ Lakes.

Locke is a 1 ½-year-old sable German shepherd. He loves playing fetch, hanging out in his pool, eating ice and cuddling with his stuffed tiger. You can follow him on Instagram @locke_the_gsd. Locke lives in Lutz with his proud mom, Brittany Castellano, and dad, Jack Dighera.