Hello friends :) I'm honestly surprised it's taken me so long to come up with this idea for a blog post, but I'm glad it finally happened and I hope you are too.
There's lot of perfectly valid reasons for assembling and sharing a compilation of the Perry Lab Pets. In no particular order:
- Literally every person ever loves talking about their pets. We are no exception.
- One of the most frequently asked personal questions we get during our outreach endeavors is "Do you have any pets?". Turns out, people love talking about other people's pets too.
- We are also often asked if it is possible to have enough time for a pet and go to grad school, work long hours in the lab, travel to the field or conferences, hunt for jobs, or just generally live an academic life. Not only are we here to tell you that it is possible, we want you to know that we think it can be beneficial in multiple ways to have a non-human companion with such a lifestyle.
- I felt like sparking a little joy with my lab mates :) Now I've gotten at least some of them to sit at their computer and smile like a goofball thinking about how wonderful their creature companion is and what a source of positivity these creatures are in their lives.
So, without further ado, here are the Perry Lab pets.
All descriptions were written by the pet's parents, links lead to their Twitter or Penn State profile pages. Enjoy!
All descriptions were written by the pet's parents, links lead to their Twitter or Penn State profile pages. Enjoy!
STEPHEN
- Pet parent(s) and sibling(s): PJ, Emily Davenport, and Maeve
- Named for/after: Stephen Gonsalves, a good friend and amazing person who worked with the Batwa Development Program in Uganda and who was a special part of my time working there, who passed away. A former graduate student in the lab is also named Stephen, so it was a bit confusing there for awhile. Unfortunately, grad student Stephen was allergic to cat Stephen.
- Nicknames: Dee-doo (the baby’s name for the cat, often spoken loudly and with excitement)
- Birthday (approx.): 2013
- Physical traits: Gray tabby
- Likes: Cuddling up with his humans, catnip, walking on the heads/ biting hair of his humans at 5:00am, and there was a string and stick toy that he used to carry all around the house and up and down the stairs when he was younger.
- Dislikes: Thunder, strangers (although he’s getting better with this, slowly), car rides, international travel (although he did better than we could have imagined, on his sabbatical travel to and return from Germany), being chased by the increasingly mobile baby (although he is sweet and patient with her, when she is able to contain her excitement and more calmly pet).
MAKI MCSPOTTYBUTT GROGAN
- Pet parent(s) and sibling(s): Katie
- Named for/after: The Malagasy word for lemur. The original plan was to get a girl dog and name her Alika, the Malagasy word for dog.
- Nicknames: Mak, Mack the Knife, Macaroni, Goose, Poo, SkillyDog
- Birthday (approx.): Sometime between October 2013 & January 2014, so we celebrate his Adopt-a-versary on October 14th, 2014.
- Physical traits: 55 lb. white dog with black spots & black patches on face - Border collie-English Setter cross.
- Likes: His doggie bestie Pascal & his human besties Stephanie & Jenny. Music practice at night (his, not mine). Rainbow Ball & Monster Toys. Running & hiking. Adventures. Cookies. Pickles, peppers, & cheese.
- Dislikes: The Running Harness of Shame. Skateboards of the Devil.
MOODY
- Pet parent(s) and sibling(s): Alexis, Dan, Margaery
- Named for/after: Alastor “Mad Eye” Moody from the Harry Potter books
- Nicknames: Moo, Moo Man, Moo Burrito, Mooba, Moosa, Boo, Boosa, Bub, Fooba, Goose, Goo, Goober Boose
- Birthday (approx.): April 6, 2014
- Physical traits: 9.5 lb. and gray all over, with a big mane, fluffy pants, and one green eye.
- Likes: Moo begs to go for walkies on his leash. His favorite foods are all kinds of cat kibbles, catnip, grass, cheese-flavored people food that isn’t actual cheese (Doritos, Cheez-Its, etc.). He also prefers drinking from a mug on the coffee table instead of the cat fountain. He loves nuzzling and licking his people, sprawling, pouncing, toys that make sounds, string, making bird noises or bothering his Cat Sister when he wants attention, and sleeping on Human Mom’s shoulder.
- Dislikes: Moo’s not a fan of things that can get him wet (hose, faucets, rain), aluminum foil, thunderous sounds (including actual thunder and loud cars/trucks), dogs, or people scratching his butt.
MARGAERY
- Pet parent(s) and sibling(s): Alexis, Dan, and Moody
- Named for/after: Margaery Tyrell, from the A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) books
- Nicknames: Margy, Mama, Mama Bear, Belly Mama, Wiggle Mama, Girly, Girly Butt, Squeaks
- Birthday (approx.): May 15, 2013
- Physical traits: 9.5 lb. gray/brown tabby with shortie white socks on her front paws and tall socks on her back paws, a “dirty” spot on her chin, and a thick black stripe down her spine with a black-tipped tail.
- Likes: Margy loves being outside in the catio, lying in sunny spots, people scratches and pets, and staring. She’s so good at staring, at chipmunks, people, her Cat Brother, you name it. She also enjoys sitting just out of reach but asking for attention anyway, cleaning herself and her Cat Brother, heating pads, soft blankets or pillows, watching bird videos on YouTube, playing fetch, ripping up cardboard boxes, getting carried around by Human Mom, and sitting on Human Dad’s lap. She likes her kibbles fine, but will beg for any protein-based people food (and sometimes not eat it). She also prefers to drink from Human Dad’s sink, or rainwater puddles, or window condensation instead of the cat fountain.
- Dislikes: Margy’s not a fan of loud noises or strangers (but she’ll warm up to people and animals pretty quickly!).
KEILA
- Pet parent(s) and sibling(s): Stephanie, Molly (the beagle), Charlie (the cat)
- Named for/after: I adopted Keila from a rescue when she was 5 years old, and she was already called “Tequila”, so I just slightly changed her name.
- Nicknames: Keelou, Big girl, Pups, Keilala
- Birthday (approx.): Unknown, so I made her birthday December 13 when I adopted her (which is a month before mine).
- Physical traits: A wrinkly brindle Cane Corso mastiff mix, clocking in at a cuddly 115 lbs.
- Likes: Homemade dog biscuits, popcorn, and toast are her favorite snacks. She loves playing in the snow, especially with her frisbee and is especially good with tug-of-war. Her favorite activity is taking up all the space on a 3-person couch.
- Dislikes: As a lazier dog, Keila hates long walks and going up the stairs.
LUCKY
- Pet parent(s) and sibling(s): Raining and Saber (passed two years ago)
- Named for/after: In China, black cats with all four white paws are considered “lucky”. I guess I was not so creative when I named him.
- Nicknames: Big Paws, Bear Cub, Snow Cat
- Birthday (approx.): Unknown. I decided to share my birthday with him in April.
- Physical traits: 15 lb. tuxedo cat with a really long tail, white chest and white belly, tufts of hair between all of his toes, enormously large white large paws, but with a bit of black on his back left paw. Lucky is missing his upper right canine.
- Likes: LOVES being outside. He goes out on walks with a harness and leash. He loves sun-bathing and sleeping next to mom. Catnip. Eating raw grass/green veggies like collar green and spinach. Hiding behind the brushes spying on birds. Catch snakes and bring to the house (ugh).
- Dislikes: Neighborhood cats come to “his” backyard. Trash bags. When I am home late and he doesn’t get his “outside” time. Strangers. The idea of being wet.
LUCY
- Pet parent(s) and sibling(s): Diego and Alex, Sebastian and Severus (Sibs)
- Named for/after: Named after Lucille Ball, from I Love Lucy and The Lucy Show because, like the actress, Lucy has fiery red/brownish hair and saying “Lucy you got some esplaining to do” is so much fun!
- Nicknames: Monster, Baby Girl, Prin (for princess)
- Birthday (approx.): February 3rd, 2011
- Physical traits: 14 lb. long hair Dachshund, bat-like ears with black trim around them. She is short and was born with a club-foot (this makes her 10x more precious).
- Likes: Treats, the most food motivated pet I have come across. Her second favorite thing is a squeaky toy and her third is laying on either of her Dad’s laps. She also thoroughly enjoys long stroller rides across campus to get pets from students and puppicinos from the local Starbucks.
- Dislikes: The mail person, and loud clapping/noises.
SEBASTIAN WHISKEY
- Pet parent(s) and sibling(s): Diego and Alex, Lucy and Severus (sibs)
- Named for/after: Named after Johann Sebastian Bach, one of Alex’s favorite composers, and Whiskey was a name given to him by the students in a class his dad TA’s for, Anthropology of Alcohol.
- Nicknames: Sebs, Baby Boy, Flops (his ears are huge and floppy).
- Birthday (approx.): Aug 3rd, 2019
- Physical traits: His coat is that of a regular hound dog, closed, hard hair of medium length. He is black, brown and white and has the biggest most perfect ears I have ever seen.
- Likes: EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE, especially howling at his big sister when she won’t play with him. He also loves to fall asleep with his body on dad’s pillow and his head on their shoulder or neck.
- Dislikes: Squirrels...he must chase them all and unbury all of their nuts.
SEVERUS
- Pet parent(s) and sibling(s): Diego and Alex, Lucy and Sebastian (sibs)
- Named for/after: The bravest person and one of the most ICONIC Harry Potter characters of all time, Severus Snape.
- Nicknames: Sevs, Scaly, Sweetheart
- Birthday (approx.): Early february 2018
- Physical traits: 5 ft. long, Ball Python, forest green scales with amber and black circles throughout.
- Likes: Sunning on her dad’s shoulders/neck, or on her rock, humid areas and yummy adult rats. She also loves exploring the back and front yards.
- Dislikes: Being touched on the head or approached suddenly.
BERNARD (BERNI)
- Pet parent(s) and sibling(s): Ebony and his brother Binford
- Named for/after: He looked like a Saint Bernard when he was little.
- Nicknames: Good Man, Bern Bern, Berni-boo
- Birthday (approx.): January 7th, 2012
- Physical traits: Handsome Disney dog, classic dog look. Tri-colored, brown all over with white and black accents.
- Likes: Licking and chewing sticks, laying in the sun, sleeping on the couch.
- Dislikes: Puppies and when other steal his toys.
BINFORD
- Pet parent(s) and sibling(s): Ebony and his brother Berni (Fun fact: him and his brother are like Pinky and the Brain - Binford's the idiot, Berni is insane lol.)
- Named for/after: Lewis Binford, a famous archaeologist/anthropologist.
- Nicknames: Binny booboo, Binbin, Good Boy
- Birthday (approx.): August 17th, 2016
- Physical traits: Big, fluffy, choonk, thicc boy. Black with white and brown accents.
- Likes: EVERYONE and ALL FOOD, snuggles and pets and the cold!!
- Dislikes: Heat, anything over 65F and he's too hot. Also loud noises.
DAISY
- Pet parent(s) and sibling(s): Emily and Ian (parents) and Muffin (sibling, rabbit)
- Named for/after: My Nana passed away a few years ago and she loved dogs, and her favorite flowers were daisies.
- Nicknames: Dais, Pup, Baby Cutie (yes, I am this ridiculous when talking to animals)
- Birthday (approx.): June 2019
- Physical traits: Curly, black coat and a white goatee and chest. She is growing by at least 2 pounds every week!
- Likes: Peanut butter is her favorite thing ever, only second to frozen peanut butter. She loves her toys, especially a crinkly one shaped like a chicken, and really enjoys squeaking and being loud with her toys when the humans in the apartment are trying to sleep. Her favorite hobbies including chasing leaves when they fall, hanging out with the rabbit every day, playing monkey-in-the-middle (she is always the monkey and has a bad habit of “puppy guarding” - pun intended), sprinting figure 8s around a chair in the living room, and napping. Lots and lots of napping.
- Dislikes: Walking through doors she has never been through or seen before, elevators, smelling peanut butter when someone is making a sandwich instead of getting some for her, seeing strangers in the distance while on a walk, being left alone, and when she can’t find her “chicken.”