About CALS Wellness Featured Pets
In an effort to promote community and wellbeing, the CALS Community of Wellness is happy to highlight the special bonds between pets and owners by featuring pets of employees across our college.
A 2022 survey by the American Pet Products Association found that 70 percent of American households own a pet, a jump from 56 percent in 1988. More than 23 million people added a pet to their home during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the ASPCA.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, studies have shown that the bond between people and their pets is linked to health benefits.
Pet of the Week: July 10

Name: Oakley
Owner: Katy France, CALS Human Resources
On a remote work day, I got up to refill my coffee and when I returned, Oakley had taken over my job. He’s looking at me as if to say, “Mom, you’re interrupting a very important Zoom meeting.”
Previous Featured Pets

Name: Oakley
Owner: Katy France, CALS Human Resources
On a remote work day, I got up to refill my coffee and when I returned, Oakley had taken over my job. He’s looking at me as if to say, “Mom, you’re interrupting a very important Zoom meeting.”

Name: Draco
Owner: Katie Datka, Office of the Dean and Director
Draco is a 3-year old collie who loves nothing more than to play! He enjoys frisbee, soccer, and being chased by his humans around the house. He is a huge talker and often makes “Chewbacca” sounds. Often after a meal, he will belch his compliments to the chef. He is definitely a sweetie and brings tons of joy to our home.

Name: Mabel
Owner: Mike Xenos, Life Sciences Communication
Mabel is a treeing walker coonhound, originally from Indiana. Though bred for hunting, Mabel lives for leisure. She hates fireworks and stormy weather, but she loves food, sampling the scents of Hoyt Park, lounging, and science communication.

Name: Agatha
Owner: Aaron Hoskins, Biochemistry
Agatha enjoys sleeping in, getting treats, and playing “TB” (tennis ball) indoors. She absolutely hates going outside for walkies in the rain. Her favorite time of the year is when she gets to visit Aaron’s BIOCHEM 507 class each Fall semester!

Name: Zelda
Owner: Martin Lea, CALS Research Division
Zelda is the master of the house and she rules with an iron paw. Chief duties include ousting anyone from a comfortable, pre-warmed seat, demanding and overseeing the construction of blanket caves, collecting the scratches required for household entry, and notifying the staff when bedtime approaches. Dislikes include vacuum cleaners and nonsense.

Name: Ogo, Samantha, and Hoss
Owner: Pam Thompson, CALS Business Services
I, on the left, am holding my childhood cat, Ogo. Above Ogo is Samantha, my Dad’s pet goose. Samantha’s favorite hobby was terrorizing our huge Saint Bernard, Hoss. Samantha would pinch Hoss’ jowls – as she can be seen reaching for in this photo.

Name: Aurora Borealis “Rorie”
Owner: Deborah Juneau, CALS Business Services
Rorie is a West Highland White Terrier and is nearly 16 years old. She is a devoted and faithful companion who loves her walks, which have transitioned to very slow perambulations combined with rides in her new pram. Checking the neighborhood pee-mail on these walks is a daily requirement and rarely missed. Her spare time is spent sleeping and following “mom” around the house. She has a heart of gold!

Name: Jax
Owner: Julia Frangul, CALS Global
Jax loves all food, long walks, and snuggles. He dislikes when anyone leaves, people who don’t share food, and rainy days. He’s very clumsy and often gets so excited that he ends up falling off the couch or down the stairs. He can jump at least four feet in the air but definitely won’t jump into your car.

Name: Tally (aka Tallahassee Pete the Cat)
Owner: Megan Maguire, Research Division/Dean’s Office
Tally is a 15 year old tabby male, currently weighing in at 22lbs, and not just because his vet would like him to “drop a few.” Here is a picture of this big guy’s face, but many folks have seen the other end of him via video meetings in the last few years. He loves to nap (and loudly snore) and drink from the sink tap. He suffers from light ninja action from his much smaller sister, who refuses to be photographed with him. But don’t worry, he can take it.

Name: Chela
Owner: Kara Luedtke, CALS External Relations
Chela is our Chief Security Officer. Her favorite things are walks and enjoying her backyard which usually consists of surveying from the deck, rolling in the grass, and chasing squirrels and rabbits.

Name: Tonic
Owner: Kara Luedtke, CALS External Relations
Tonic loves to cuddle and sits on me all day when I work from home (you’ve probably seen him if we’ve had a virtual meeting). Today I guess I was out of my chair too long–it looks like he thought he should keep me on track!

Name: Winnie
Owner: Jori Skalitzky, CALS External Relations
Winnie is a small, orange cat who is extremely curious. She loves to explore, birdwatch, jump on things, scratch the furniture, meow for treats, and cuddle up on your lap.

Names: Posco
Owner: Scott Anderson, Nutritional Sciences
This is Posco, he’s 14 years young, born in Dallas, TX. Definitely my pandemic buddy and winter heater. He’s almost always in the window checking out his squirrel friends and the two cardinals, St. Louis and Cardi B, that live in the tree by us. He is also a big fan of Secrets of the Zoo. When it’s on he will watch the TV till it’s over. His arch nemesis is the vacuum cleaner, but he’s already out lived two! Posco 2 – Vacuums 0.

Names: Brody
Owner: M.L. Krase, Nutritional Sciences
Brody is a Red Heeler rescued from Hurricane Harvey in Houston 5 yrs ago from Lola’s Lucky Day rescue org. He was 7 months old full of lots of anxiety but has blossomed into an amazing dog. His Likes are running and chasing in doggy parks with other dogs- catching and delivering almost anything we throw to him & will bring any toy I ask him to deliver so he can peanut butter spread on it. Dislikes – people standing around (he wants to herd them…) Cats & St.Bernards and large White dogs(scared of them..) His qualities includes delivering items to me when I ask -“bring me your black bone..bring me your wheelie”…etc.

Names: Tito & Nala
Owner: Kayla Kaeppler, Nutritional Sciences
Tito and Nala are our two adorable, friendly, free-range rabbits. Tito is almost 6 years old and Nala is almost 2 years old and they are best friends. Being free-range, they are never kept in cages and are free to roam are home as they please. My fiancé and I like to tell people that they actually own/run our home, we just live there. They LOVE bananas, blueberries and apples. They also love chewing on anything and everything they are not supposed to, but that’s okay because they make our family whole.

Name: Leni
Owner: Rachel Fenske, Nutritional Sciences
Leni is a bit of an oddball. She likes to speak loudly at all times and is easily startled by loud noises. She loves to eat, and does not limit herself to food. She likes lint, fuzz, and even packing peanuts. This causes her parents a lot of stress. Leni is a unique feline specimen.

Name: Finn
Owner: Kristin Carrol, CALS Human Resources
Finn is a retired racing greyhound. He is a 40mph couch potato! On average he sleeps 18 hours a day. He loves his humans, walks, running at the dog park, and treats (especially the doggie ice cream treats from Chocolate Shoppe)! Fun fact: he has a dog bed in almost every room of the house…he isn’t spoiled at all!

Name: Pete the Peacock
Owner: Megan Pierce, Biochemistry
Pete likes keeps watch over every inch of the farm. When not on patrol, he enjoys taking a rest on the porch railing or showing off his tail feathers to the ladies. He gets easily distracted when seeing himself in a shiny truck bumper and grapes are one of his favorite treats.

Name: Ace
Owner: Crystal Peterson, Biochemistry
Ace is a six-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier. He’s a typical Slytherin: motivated, resourceful, determined, and clever. He loves romping around the house with his toys, playfully throwing them up and catching them ever so gently.

Name: Quentin
Owner: Nathaniel Sharp, Genetics
Quentin is a rescue cat, and was found living on the streets. He enjoys climbing, singing, and snuggles. His head tilts to the side slightly, making him look confused, which he probably is.

Name: Logan
Owner: Nathaniel Sharp, Genetics
Logan is a rescue cat, originally from Chicago. He enjoys following people around, and going outside in most weather. His favorite foods are greenies and bugs. He dislikes closed doors.

Name: Nova
Owner: Vanessa Vosen, CALS Administration
Nova (full name Nova Lyn) is a two year old Maltese Yorkie mix whose nicknames include spitfire and stinky winky. She LOVES fetch (more than any 9 pound dog should), hiking, and park hangs. And when you pull out the treats, she often rolls over without command.

Name: Finn
Owner: Kelly Tomko-Ewing, Arlington Ag Research Station
Finn is a 10-week old Labrador Retriever who has great aspirations of following in his parents’ footsteps of being a bird dog and canine good citizen. For now he is working hard to complete 100 new things in 100 days, including riding an elevator, meeting a cat, learning to swim, and many other things to make him a confident and worldly pup.

Name: Crouton
Crouton is a 6 year old grey tabby cat who loves attention snuggles and meeting new people. He loves to watch the birds and reminisce of his days as a feral street cat.

Name: Freya
Freya is a 7 year old rescue who came from Missouri. She’s an absolute darling, sweet and loves everyone, but is also a HUGE glutton! There’s nothing she loves more than food and isn’t above sneaking it away if you’re not looking.

Name: Minnie & Pebbles
Owner: Kelly Tomko-Ewing, Arlington Ag Research Station
Pebbles is a beautiful barn cat who has become good friends with “Minnie”, JE Ranch’s miniature horse. During the cold winter nights Pebbles sought warmth next to her bigger, fuzzy body and the friendship has continued to blossom since.

Name: Nora
Owner: Kris Turkow, Biochemistry
Nora is a three-year-old mini-bernedoodle who loves Samin Nosrat’s buttermilk-marinated roast chicken recipe, stealing mulch from flowerbeds, and laying in the shade with a breeze through her fluff. She is deathly afraid of the toaster and will run and hide as soon as a loaf of bread appears, but is A-OK with all other kitchen appliances.

Name: Maverick
Owner: Betsy Wood, Biological Systems Engineering
Maverick was an auction rescue so I don’t have any history. Since I bought him last fall, we have both learned a lot about each other. He’s about 7 years old, and probably a mix of Quarter Horse/ Thoroughbred/ Arabian. He likes all kinds of treats and enjoys mental challenges. We hope to do all kinds of events together; jumping and trails and obstacles.
Name: Hailey
Owner: Betsy Wood, Biological Systems Engineering
Hailey was Dog of Honor and ring bearer at her owner’s wedding. She is a certified hospice therapy dog and a Canine Good Citizen. She likes to sleep on the furniture and investigate outdoors. She has killed small squeakers. She loves cats and washes her face the way they do. She was a shelter pup and is probably a mix of collie and shepherd. She is 12 years young.