Pets of the Week The special friends of Deeder McDaniel

Deeder with Tika and Koko!

This is Tika (named for the sound her nails made on the hardwood floor when we got her). She is a Pom/Terrier mix. I got her as a gift, and was none too thrilled when her tiny puppy body was placed in my hand, but now we can't imagine life without her. She just had her fourth birthday, and weighs about 9 pounds. She is something of a nervous nelly, except in the case of anything that looks or sounds even a little like skates or skateboards, which causes her to become a whirling dervish of barking, running, and general hysteria. She is supremely loyal and her shyness is quite endearing. Every night she burrows down under the covers and sleeps at our feet.

The chubby brown one is Koko, named partly for her color and partly after the sign language speaking gorilla (rather clumsy but very charming). Koko was rescued from Tiajuana, Mexico as a puppy. She just turned two, loves to cuddle and play, and has two favorite toys: her "green guy" (a fuzzy green ball) and a stuffed bananna, either of which she often brings to bed with her. I think she is probably a Corgi mix: she has a deep, throaty bark and her body shape is very Corgi-like. Every day when the mail arrives she barks frantically, catches the mail as it comes through the slot in the door and wrestles it. Most of our mail has little dog-mouth-shaped bite holes in it.

We don't have human kids, but these two might as well be for all the attention and love they get (and deserve). They bring tremendous joy to us.

If you would like to write me about Tika or Koko, just go to the feedback form and APA will forward the message to me!

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Send a picture, or a few, of your pet along with a description of why they are special to you and what funny or interesting things they do. Remember, every pet is special, so we are not looking for the odd, just tell us about your best friend! You do not have to be an APA member to win!

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