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~ Welcome to Petwarmers ~
http://www.petwarmers.com

Do you think there is a difference between city cats and country cats?
Carol provides us an interesting and entertaining perspective --
from a city cat's point of view!
Meanwhile, thank you for all of your feedback regarding dog
food. You'll see many of the replies we received in our Mailbag
section. Looks like there is quite a variety of preferences out
there.
___________________________________________


CITY SLICKER
by Carol J. Douglas

This is a letter from a "City Cat" to his "Country Cat" brothers
and sisters:

My dear brothers and sisters,
A year has passed since I was plucked from our litter in the
country and taken to the city to live. I feel this is a good time to
write to you and let you know what life is like here.
The most astonishing discovery I've made since moving here is
that the city mice are so different from the ones in the country.
For one thing, they all have bells inside! Not only that, but they
just lay on the floor waiting for me to pounce on them instead of
scampering away! I carry them in my mouth and bat them around just
like the little balls I find on the floor (also with those fabulous
bells inside). Such great fun!
Another great perk is that the people who adopted me are at my
beck and call. I only have to rub their legs and look at them
beseechingly and voila, I get a delicious treat! And if I don't like
the food they give me for my main meal, I simply sniff it and walk
away. A short time later they will fill my bowl with something more
to my liking.
These wonderful people have thought of everything.
For my entertainment they have provided me with a caged bird to
watch as well as many windows to enjoy the comings and goings of
other birds. Also, there is a large container filled with water and
swimming fish for my viewing pleasure. Some day I plan to put my paw
inside and grab a fish.
However, I spend the majority of my day napping. I have my
choice of beds all over the house. If I choose a chair that a person
was going to sit in, he or she will simply find another, albeit, a
more uncomfortable one. Sometimes I take pity on them and let them
have the chair while I graciously cuddle in their lap all the while
being stroked. I let them know I am pleased by purring contentedly.
When it is time to retire for the night, I have first choice of
the area on the bed that I find most comfortable. The people adjust
themselves around me. I let them sleep while I sleep. When I awaken
and want my breakfast, I stretch lazily and see if they are awake.
If they haven't awoken, I clean myself. And if they are still not
awake I gently walk around their heads. If I am still unsuccessful,
a few loud meows and pounces always works.
Ah, life is good here in the city.
Come and visit anytime. Must go and inspect my dinner!
Best Regards, Your city brother

-- Carol J. Douglas

___________________________________________
Carol lives in Dublin, Ohio with her husband, Jeff and their two
children, Justin and Emelia, and two city cats, Tux and Ferrari.
Carol has had several children's poems published as well as a romance
story in Woman's World Magazine. Her new book for children, Miss
Millie Pede & Friends -- Poems & Riddles to Bug You! can be found on
her website at http://www.caroljdouglas.com.
___________________________________________

Horrible Weekend..

It's been a horrible weekend. :( I got drunk last saturday- fell down and hit my head on right side. i got knocked out and they couldnt wake me up for long time. my right eye is swollen. Right Side of my head is throbbing. I went into a shock and threw up alots. i also had shakes. my sweetie had to keep me warm by holding me in his arms along with blanket. i cant keep anything down yesterday none at all. man it was not funny. I havent eaten for 2 days now. :eek3: I spent the whole day resting yesterday and today as well. I am still feeling horrible. i know for a fact that i do have concussion cuz i was knocked out and they culdnt wake me up for long time??? jeez i dont undy why they didnt call ambulance for me? sheesh! oh well.. if i am not feeling well by tmw.. i will go to dr and have check up on my brain to make sure im ok.... :(

I am not gonna go down the road again. i am too old for this. lol. :)

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The best thing to happen to mornings since the Sun!

Your morning thought for the day:
I have never been especially impressed by the
heroics of people who are convinced they are
about to change the world. I am more awed by
those who struggle to make one small difference
after another.
-- Ellen Goodman

Today Roger tells us about a remarkable woman that you probably
have never heard of before -- a simple, yet inspirational and
courageous woman who had a tremendous impact saving thousands of
Jewish children in World War II.

____________________________________________

IRENA SENDLER
by Roger Dean Kiser

I was eating dinner in my recliner and watching the television
news when I saw this strange, almost comical looking woman.
I decided to change the channel but my remote stopped working so
I was forced to watch the news segment.
Within minutes, tears filled my eyes when I realized the woman
they were reporting on was an honest to goodness hero.
I had never heard of Irena Sendler -- a woman who saved the
lives of 2,500 children who were scheduled to be killed by the Nazis
during World War II. She had both her legs and feet broken by
soldiers while trying to save the lives of children.
As thousands were being killed, the children of total strangers
were given false identities and placed in homes, orphanages and
convents. Irena Sendler carefully noted, in coded form, the original
names of the children and their new identities. She kept the only
record of their true identities in jars buried beneath an apple tree
in a neighbor's backyard, across the street from German barracks,
hoping she could someday dig up the jars, locate the children and
inform them of their past and true identities.
In all, the jars contained the names of 2,500 children.
Are there any Irenas or Schindlers left among us today?
Is that funny and sort of weird looking character down at the
local super market or the gas station the one who might save our
children should such a terrible occasion arise in the future?
As of today, I will do my best to try and treat others with a
little more dignity and respect. I now realize that it might be the
pimple faced kid working at McDonald's or the over-weight individual
at the dry cleaners who might have the heart, guts and unselfish
compassion to save my offspring one day.
All I can say is that there are only a few true heroes and I thank them.
The jar has been found, the lid has been removed, and the lesson
has been found.

-- Roger Dean Kiser

____________________________________________
Until we read Roger's story, we had never heard of Irena either. She
passed away a couple of months ago on May 12, 2008, at age 98, in
Poland. Her family and many of the rescued children continue to tell
her story of courage and valor. There is a fascinating website we
encourage you to visit that can give you the whole story, including
how American high school students recently discovered her legacy and
created "The Life in Jar" project. You are welcome to learn more
here:
Homepage: http://www.irenasendler.org/
Life in a Jar Tour Schedule: http://www.irenasendler.org/events.asp
The Project Story: http://www.irenasendler.org/thestory.asp
____________________________________________

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Stephanie and Brett were open to the idea of adding a cat or two
to the family. Brett got himself a "daddy's boy" -- and Stephanie
found a "mama's boy."
All's well that ends well!
Note: Let us hear from you if you have an opinion about what
dogs should eat. You'll see a short story below.
___________________________________________


MAMA'S BOY
by Stephanie Powers

I had two cats heading into their golden years when my husband
and I first met.
Brett had never owned cats but after seven years of dating he
loved Valentino and Australia as much as I did, and they loved him.
We were heartbroken when Aussie went to the Rainbow Bridge on
our first wedding anniversary and two years later, on our third
wedding anniversary, my Tino followed her.
Two years passed before we were ready to adopt again. I put the
word out to friends and family. Before long a friend came through.
Charlotte owned the kennel where she boarded dogs and had
rescued a mother cat and kittens from an abandoned barn. She was
looking for good homes so I called her. I told her we wanted an
outgoing kitten who could handle a lot of love.
"You're going to want Little Joey," she said.
Much to my surprise, Brett didn't want Little Joey. He didn't
like the idea of someone else choosing our kitten. We drove out to
the kennel anyway.
Three kittens were left for adoption. When Charlotte let them
out of their condo none of them gave me a second look but one
immediately jumped into Brett's arms and snuggled.
"This is the one I want," he stated. Little Joey had just
picked his new owner. The bond was instantaneous. They weren't even
going to let Charlotte say goodbye.
Brett and Little Joey, now renamed Leo, are inseparable. Leo
will leap onto Brett's shoulders giving him kisses on demand. He's
daddy's boy through and through. I was jealous.
Parking behind my office, located on a busy city street, I
started seeing a woman followed around by the most precocious tuxedo
kitten. He was tiny, yet full of attitude, and sometimes he would be
outside all by himself stalking birds and butterflies close to the
road. I prayed that he would survive.
Strangely, I was delivering papers to a client's business when I
met the kitten's owner doing odd jobs there.
"Your kitten is adorable," I told her.
"Do you want him?" she asked. "My landlord wants an extra $30 a
month for pets, so I'm getting rid of him."
Of course I wanted him, but Brett had just quit his job for a
better one that fell through and our health insurance had run out and
his medicine was $400 a month. Our money was tight. The timing was
terrible.
"I'll take him, but not until I can get an appointment with my
vet. Can you keep him for a few more days?" I asked.
That was Friday. On Monday, I walked over to her apartment with
my cat carrier. I wanted my new kitten to get used to it. That's
when I saw him poised on the very edge of the road ready to pounce on
a butterfly. Somehow, I managed to shoo him into her apartment.
"Please don't let him outside until I can come and get him," I
begged. I showed her what to do with the carrier, telling her I
would be back at 7:30am on Friday.
That was the slowest week of my life. Several times, on my way
to the post office I saw him sitting outside near the road, locked in
his carrier. Though safer, I didn't like that either. It cost $300
and a second trip to the vet that day, getting Leo caught up on his
shots and an overdue check-up before MooShoo came home with a clean
bill of health and a few hundred less fleas.
My MooShoo has never looked back and neither have we. Brett and
I fell in love with him that very first day. If you sneeze, he meows
"Bless you!"
Every morning, he leaps up on my knee light as a feather and
gives me a kiss on the lips and a love bite on my elbow. He sleeps
wedged so far underneath me I call him my little chicky. But best of
all, he's mama's boy through and through.

-- Stephanie Powers

___________________________________________
Stephanie is an accountant who lives in South Bend, Indiana. She and
her husband love all animals especially cats. She love stories and
pictures about animals and has recently become an avid bird watcher.
___________________________________________

Blue Friday.... blue and black ankle Again!

Good afternoon to all of you....

It's been crazy this week...What can I say? I am happy to report now that me and my sweetie worked things out. So all is good. Not just that but first I fell down Monday and sprained my ankle and this morning I fell down and sprained my same ankle and now it is VERY blue and black! It is throbbing.

It was getting better and I was getting handle of walking on it but now this again? Oh boy. I am such a klutz! No wonder I was voted Most Clumsy back in High school for two years in a row. LOL. Gotta love me, hehehe! :P

Not much of news around here but finally get to check emails and see what is up online. Now I gotta get off and go to town to do errands for my mom and my sister. So I hope all of you have a great weekend! :)

Take care and As always,
Ginger :)

In Loving Memory of Mac- Nov 14, 1992- July 17, 2007

And to make it worse.. Today is the one year annivesary since our Beloved dog Mac had passed on.. Hard to believe it's been one year ago since he had been gone and there is not a day that go by without us talking and thinking of him. He is forever always in our heart. We still missed him soo MUCH! We are sure that Mac is watching over both of us so that is a comfort thought. :(

We love you Mac so much!!!! :(

Lovin' you sweet dog...
Ginger & TJ...

Love sucks!

Good morning to all of you. I am sure you are surprised to see me up late at this hour? I just can't sleep as lot of things are racing thru my mind but that is not the only reason why as I am in a bad mood, too. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I just want to scream at the world... Why?

Right now I am feeling hurt and have been crying alots since last night..I am not going to post all of this as it's none of your beeswax business! This definitely SUCKS! WHY??? WHY?? ARGH!!!!! *crying* *sniffing* This fuckin sucks! :*(

Lastly before I close this but I can say this...

LOVE SUCKS!


So whatever.... sorry but I had to vent.... *crying*

Thank you for listening to me....

As always,
Ginger :(

Blue Monday- Blue ankle...

Good day to all of you...

I have been busy the last few days as I was with a friend. I had a good time but the bad thing is that I fell down yesterday and hurt my ankle badly. I was not paying attention to where I was going and fell into a hole. I had to go to er and thank goodness it's not broken! whew! But dang it throbbed all night as I couldn't sleep none at all! :( sniffing

Funny thing is that my friend fell down last night too. He had a cut with huge knot on his shin of the leg. Ouch! He went out of the front door and got spooked by the spider web so he ran back in and fell over the table. He is scared of spiders. poor guy! heh! Guess we are two of a kinds! ha ha ha!

TJ and I are going to stay at friends house for at least 2 days.. We are going to watch movies and swimming. So hope all of you have a great week! :)

As always,
Ginger :)

A deaf Joke....

A bar is located across the street from a school for the hearing
impaired. Every evening after classes, members of the faculty
come into the bar and have a drink. They use sign language to
talk and sometimes their conversations become quite intense.
One afternoon a group of the teachers are sitting at a table and
are being overly rambunctious in their sign language: their hands
are held high, and they are swaying back and forth. The bartender
becomes quite agitated and says to one of his customers
sitting at the bar, "Now they'll never go home."
"What do you mean?" asks the customer.
"You can't get them out of here once they start singing!"

Got this via email.. LOL.. cute! heheh!

Blue Monday? ... Nah....

Hi everyone!

Was it a Blue Monday? Nah.. It was a HOT and Humid Monday! I thought the A/C went out in my car but I realized it was set on wrong setting, duh me! Ugh, LOL! We were sweating so profusely! ugh! haha! Still we had a good day... We went to snake exhibit and croc exhibit at Morrilton. TJ was so excited to see King Cobra up close as it is his favorite reptile. ugh. ha! :)

There were several albino snakes (rattlesnakes, vipers, and speckled spitting cobra there.) I was surprised. I never seen one (albino speckled spitting cobra) before. So it was very interesting! Afterwards we went shopping then we went back home and fixed the dinner. I was kinda glad to be home cuz of A/C LOL.. hehe! :P

So what did I do for the 4th of July weekend? It was fine. I went to two different cookouts..One was on Friday afternoon here at my mom's. And it rained almost all morning. We were supposed to go swimming but it was cancelled. So I watched lot of Christmas movies on Lifetime channel. TJ played with the toys lol. We didnt go to watch fireworks orginally as planned due to me being dizzy and vertigo attacks due to Meniere's disease so we stayed home to watch fireworks and Dateline show about tornado 2008 on television.

Then on Saturday we went and see several of my old friends from school at Chick Fila restaurant in Conway. The thunderstorm came and it was bad. Lot of lightnings and thunders. TJ's Father and my good friend texted me and telling me to come home. I didn't like the idea of driving into the thunderstorm? So I rode the storm out with my friends. We stayed there for few hours. It was great to see them again! I sure missed them so much! :)

By then it was getting to 9 PM so it was time to leave. We went to Target then to Wal-mart to get whatever TJ wanted as he got birthday money to spend on. He got Power Rangers Jungle Fury Megazoids and he was happy with it! We have been looking for that since last year. Finally! Whew! AFterwards I dropped TJ off at his father's house. Finally I have a break but only for one day. LOL.

Then Sunday afternoon I went and saw my best friend and hanged out with her at my second momma's house. It was good to catch up on news and watching kids play in the water and all that. After that I went to my brother's house for a late 4th cook out/celebration to celebrate my niece's newborn baby as she had the baby yesterday.

Yes Carissa had her baby born at 2:36 PM and 7 lb and 3 oz. I don't know how big the baby is though. The baby was due on July 6th. Sure enough the baby arrived right on time! Ha! The baby's name is Jonathan Alexandre Haydn G. I am a Great Auntie again for 5th times or whatever? I have lost count, LOL! heheh! :P

Last night I watched the West sky for short time as it finally cleared up as it was cloudy the last few days so it was awesome to see moon near Saturn and Mars! :) So overall I had a nice weekend except the stupid dizziness and vertigo attacks as I can't help it! :(

Oh yeah... I finally figured it out why I have been getting Migraine headaches all week. I bought a diary creamer the week before and the flavor is Chocolate Raspberry so could it be? I didn't put it in my coffee the last couple of days and I haven't got the attack yet? So obiviously that is the culprit? Hmm! Oh jeez! I loved the flavor as it tasted so great! Oh well I bought another diary creamer and it's French Vanilla which is my other favorite flavor.. Does that mean I am allergic to chocolate raspberry, I wonder? Oh man! I love chocolates! :(


Well I better stop for now so ya'll take care and have a great week! :)

As always,
Ginger :)

Have a great 4th and wonderful weekend! :)

Myspace 4th of July Comments & Graphics

I hope all of you have a wonderful 4th. :) Enjoy the fireworks, cookouts and whatever you usually do on the 4th.

Happy Independence Day! :)

As always,
Ginger :)

Have a Happy 4th... :)

Myspace 4th of July Comments

I hope all of you have a wonderful and safe 4th. I have been sick the last few days with migraine headaches. It was so horrible. :( I am feeling a bit better today. I am still taking it easy. :) so i am not going to write long one but let you know I am still alive and kicking. :) ha... in case you arent coming online. I posted the graphics and hope you will enjoy the 4th. Happy Birthday America!!! :)

Hope you will enjoy reading the Heartwarmers! :)

As always,
Ginger :)



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The best thing to happen to mornings since the Sun!

Your morning thought for the day:
Let every nation know, whether it wishes
us well or ill, we shall pay any price, bear
any burden, meet any hardship, support
any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the
survival and success of liberty.
-- John F. Kennedy


The flags will be flying this weekend as Americans celebrate
Independence Day, the 4th of July. We hope you have great, and safe,
holiday weekend.
Today, Joe explains the difficulty he had when he was a kid
trying to understand what "unalienable" meant. We can remember
having problems with "indivisible."
The Declaration of Independence may only be words written on a
piece of paper (actually parchment, which is made from sheepskin) but
words have meaning and words are important -- very important. That's
why we can never take them for granted.
Let's all make sure those words are kept alive in each of our hearts.

____________________________________________

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
by Joseph Walker

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are
created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the
pursuit of Happiness..."
I don't know why the moment is frozen in my memory, but it is --
my fourth grade teacher, Miss Greene, is introducing us to The
Declaration of Independence. Maybe it's because she is such a fine
reader, or maybe it's because I have a crush on her, but it feels as
if every phrase shoots directly from her lips to my soul.
Especially that last phrase.
At age 10, I'm really into happiness, so learning that my
headlong pursuit of it is one of my "unalienable Rights"... well,
suddenly I like the Founding Fathers even more than the Yankees.
Not counting Mickey Mantle, of course.
Only one problem. I had no idea what the world "unalienable" means.
"I think it means you can't have it," George said when I asked
him about it during recess.
My heart sank. But then I thought about it. "I don't think
that's right, George" I said. "Why would those guys get excited
about rights they can't have? It doesn't make sense."
So I went to the smartest person I knew, JoAnn.
"Well," she pondered, "I know 'alien' means someone from another
planet, so 'unalienable' must mean something you can't bring in from
outer space."
She seemed to know what she was talking about even though I
couldn't for the life of me figure out what it had to do with
anything. Which is why I decided to summon my courage and ask Miss
Greene (not that she was scary or anything -- it was just... you
know, that crush thing).
"It's a very good question, Joe," she said. "Let's go to the
dictionary to find out."
Holy cow! Why didn't I think of that?
Soon I learned that an "unalienable Right" cannot be
"surrendered or transferred." Now, that was more like it. I had the
right to pursue Happiness, and no one could take it from me.
No one, that is, except Mom.
"Good," she said when I announced my intention to devote the
rest of my life to my "unalienable Right" to pursue happiness. "Now
go clean your room."
Somehow this wasn't working. Where were the days of frivolity,
where breakfast was pie and root beer and "work" was getting up to
change the channel? Where were the 10-speed bicycles? These were
the things I was sure I needed to be happy. And Happiness was my
Right.
I've learned a lot about happiness since then -- sometimes by
getting what I wanted. I had a job where I had to watch TV eight
hours a day and it became a chore. I had a 10-speed and the chain
kept falling off. I had pie and root beer for breakfast once. It
made me sick.
Mostly, I've learned that happiness isn't a possession.
You can't buy it, and no one can give it to you. It's a
feeling, and it usually involves things like family, peace, security,
love and service. It doesn't always come easily, but it is always
worthwhile.
And I think that's what the signers of The Declaration of
Independence had in mind when they affirmed humanity's God-given
right to "the pursuit of Happiness."
They weren't talking about momentary pleasures -- they were
talking about long-term, whole-souled, capital-H-type Happiness. It
isn't something you can touch, but something you feel. It isn't
something you get, but something you are. It isn't a lifestyle, it's
a way of life.
But it IS something you have to pursue. Only the journey won't
take you far and wide -- it will take you deep within yourself. You
may not rack up any frequent flier miles, but you will return with a
much grander bonus -- peace, contentment and Happiness.
After all, it's your "unalienable Right."

-- Joseph Walker

____________________________________________
Joe is a Heartwarmer Gem and a newspaper columnist.
____________________________________________

No hurry... petswarmers...

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We know many of you are bird lovers, and so are we. Earla
shares a touching story about the birds in her life and how a
temperamental girl -- aptly named Sassy -- found true love.
They are beautiful to look at, aren't they?

___________________________________________

NO HURRY
by Earla Jean Hollon

For almost five years Trinity, our male Pacific Parrotlet, and
Rainbow, a Black-mask Lovebird, lived together as best friends.
Rainbow had nursed Trinity through two serious potential
illnesses during over the years. Rainbow force fed Trinity when
Trinity lost his appetite, and helped Trinity stay upright on the
perch by pressing tightly against Trinity as Trinity leaned against
the bars of their cage. And when Trinity's legs were temporarily
paralyzed during one illness and had to be propped upright in a
makeshift nest, Rainbow nestled down with Trinity and seldom left his
side.
Our avian veterinarian and I firmly believe that Rainbow helped
Trinity not only survive, but to recover completely.
In October of 2007, Rainbow fell ill. Now it was Trinity's turn
to try and help Rainbow.
And how hard he tried. How hard we all tried. For five months
Rainbow was ill and endured oral medications given to him twice
daily, along with weekly visits to an avian specialist where blood
was taken. All kinds of tests were run, new medications were
dispensed. Trinity was now force feeding Rainbow, and gently
grooming Rainbow's once glossy feathers, now ragged and dull.
Rainbow started sleeping at night on the inside of a little coconut
hut. It was too small for Trinity to join Rainbow, so Trinity
perched close on the outside of the little hut. Rainbow sticking his
head out of his hut often to receive kisses from Trinity.
Sadly in February of this year, Rainbow had lost his battle. My
husband and I were terribly sad, as was Trinity. Even though I
showed Trinity Rainbow's body before we buried him, Trinity called
for Rainbow over and over for the next couple of weeks. At night,
Trinity made sad sounding noises that we had never heard him make
before. We knew Trinity not only missed Rainbow, but he was lonely,
as he had never been alone in his cage before.
The third week after Rainbowís passing, I could not stand
Trinity's sad little voice any longer. I purchased a female Pacific
Parrotlet to be his companion. I was warned that she had two
previous owners who rejected her because she apparently had a very
bad attitude. I named her Sassy and was told the name definitely
suited her.
I brought Sassy home and placed her in a small cage, close to
Trinity's flight aviary. Within minutes, Sassy was clinging to the
side of the cage, looking at Trinity and calling out to him. Trinity
clung to the side of his cage answering her cries.
I let Trinity out of his cage and he immediately flew to Sassy's
cage. They started talking to each other in Parrotlet language and
soon were trying to groom each other through the bars of the cage. I
opened the door to Sassy's cage and Trinity climbed inside to be with
her. And as they say, "That was that."
Sassy moved into Trinity's flight aviary the same day and they
bonded to each other immediately. I have to admit, although I was
glad that Trinity really liked Sassy, it made me feel slightly
betrayed for Rainbow. Emotionally I thought to myself how could
Trinity get over Rainbow so fast. But intellectually I know that
birds do not think, feel and respond as humans do.
Trinity loved Rainbow, but Rainbow was gone. I think he sensed
that Rainbow would not be coming back and here is the fat and sassy
little Sassy, crazy about him from the start.
Sassy loves Trinity and is very good to him, grooming him,
kissing him, cuddling up to him, and feeding him. Sassy, however,
does not like my husband or me. She doesn't like our other birds,
either, nor does she like the dogs and cats.
That's okay though, because we bought Sassy as a companion to
Trinity and she has filled that role admirably. We have faith that
with time, Sassy will calm down and accept us as well. We are in no
hurry. Parrotlets can live 20-25 years and I hope and pray that
Trinity and Sassy will be with us that long.

-- Earla Jean Hollon

___________________________________________
Earla lives in Pasadena, Texas with a very patient husband and a
small zoo, which consists of dogs, cats, sugargliders, turtles, and
birds.
___________________________________________