Paws and Whiskers

Stenseth-Bergem Family:

We never expected that the process of getting a kitten could be so complicated. Leni had wanted a cat for a long time and figured it would be nice to have a kitten for Christmas when the whole family was home and had a lot of time to get to know it. We went to the Humane Center to see if we could find a kitten. Because the long and difficult process of adopting a cat we didn't get Matanui until sometime in February.

Very few people can pronounce his name, Matanui. We wanted something original but nothing we thought of seemed quite right. At the time, Falk was very interested in Lego Bionicles and could play with them for hours.
Matanui was some sort of leader of the good Bionicles and that's how we got the name. We are excited to bring Matanui back with us to Norway this summer.
Editor’s Note: Nearby neighbors of Matanui often see him as he enjoys his daily route through the yards and gardens of Leland Street. The Forrest Family notices him passing through daily...same path across the back yard, spring, summer, fall and winter regardless of weather. See below:


Cosmas Family:

Dear , dear Maizie has been our sweet dog since she was 8 months old. My brother Jonathan called one Saturday afternoon and wondered if we were interested in adopting Maizie. After much research into breeds and behaviors, Jonathan had purchased Maizie as a puppy, one of the most "child-friendly" of beasties.

What he had not factored into the equation was his youngest of five children, Noah. Noah was four (sitting on Will's lap in the photo) and thrilled to have a live "stuffed" animal to play with and Maizie thought she was playing with one of her litter mates. A little love-nip on Noah's ear and Maizie was looking for a new home! We told the heart-sick girls, Emily, Amber and Haley, that Maizie was coming to Aunt Fairy's Finishing School of the South.

Ben, Noah's big brother, didn't really buy the story but my nieces did. Twelve years later, Ben is now at George Washington and visits Maizie whenever he wishes.
Will has always had a special place in his heart for his dog because the mascot at both his 7-12 school, St Albans, and his college, Georgetown, is an english bulldog. Maizie may look fierce but she is the most gentle and loyal dog I've ever had.

Nicole Forrest may well remember the welcoming ceremony Maizie would perform for each new beau...particularly the nice fellow from Hungary. I doubt he had ever been welcomed in such a matter in the U.S.

Taplin-Delancy Family
Ruby is a real gem!

Vicky writes: We went to the farm in Urbana, Maryland to look at poodle puppies, there were 2 left -- a quiet little male puppy, and an exuberant, playful female.
We were told that the female was not for sale -- she was an especially beautiful specimen, and was being kept for breading purposes. We had really wanted a female dog, and thought this female puppy was far cuter than her brother and had an adorable personality. But after thinking about the male puppy overnight, we called the breeder and left a message that we would take him. WE didn't hear anything back for several days. Finally, the breeder called us to say that her husband had let another family take the male puppy without checking with her first, and that it had been a big mistake for which she was very sorry. As consolation, she offered us the female puppy.

We were delighted to bring the little girl (later named Ruby) home, given that we had liked her better all along. Ben says, if anyone ever told him that he would have a poodle, he would have laughed. However, Ben says they make the best pets ever and that Ruby, in particular, is not only a terrific pet but also a very intelligent dog. Ben finds it remarkable that she understands and responds to such a wide vocabulary.


Martz-Davies Family
All creatures GREAT and small.

Stephanie reports, we do have fish and there are some pretty unromantic stories about how various fish have died and been mourned (or not). But the kids are proud
of them.
The names are:
• Goldy Sam
• Rainbow
• Shorty
• Buppy
Chris adds: Inevitable fish burials have been unsentimental to date. In fact, the kids have, at times, sought to dispatch the wounded but not expired on their final swirl before their times had come.
Stephanie (unwittingly) participated in piscicide, when she reattached a filter part that became dislodged during a cleaning, not realizing that Fuffy (skinny goldfish) had swum inside the part when it was detached. The Great Disappearing Fish Mystery was resolved a couple of weeks later, when the near-fleshless skeleton was recovered. His remains were dispatched by traditional methods.

Duffy Family:
A “Bonnie” idea!

Bonnie reflects: Missy is my first dog - I got her as a puppy almost 6 six ago. Missy loves swimming, and especially enjoys the ocean. We've spent a lot of fun times at the beach in North Carolina. Charles and I met when Missy was a few months old.

Charles has never been a "dog person" - fortunately for all of us, Missy persevered with affection and won him over. Missy and Matthew have done well together from the start. Missy appreciates Matthew, he is a good food source as much of what starts out on his plate ends up on the floor. A hand to mouth existence explains Matthew and Missy’s symbiotic relationship.

And Matthew seems to enjoy having Missy to boss around. Occasionally, Matthew is known to say "Watch Missy" as he shows off a newly learned skill. Missy's favorite thing these days is to romp in the back yard with Ruby.

Horowitz-Kazin Family:
Life goes on!

Beth recalls: We got Zoe - which means "Life" - after 9/11. The kids had been agitating for months (years?) for a dog and we, particularly Michael, had resisted, citing the usual objections to the mess and hassle involved. But on a beautiful September morning, Maia and I were walking in Bethesda and met a woman with an especially adorable curly-haired blonde dog.

She told us he was a terripoo (though Danny insists on calling Zoe a Perrier), and in our traumatized, fragile, grateful states we phoned the breeder, and very shortly afterwards brought home a rambunctious and wonderfully affectionate puppy.

She is beloved by all of us but - predictably - especially dear to Michael, who wrote his last book with Zoe at his feet.
We think she is a sister to Cammie who belongs to the Sachs family at 4200 Leland.

Forrest Family:
Seeking a cat, a dog or a monkey!

Marcy explains: Our family has always had cats, always two or three at a time. When our Zimba and Zula reached the end of their days we knew we would be looking for kittens again. We particularly love Burmese and so we sought out a Burmese breeder and brought a pair of brothers home. We had read, that if you want a cat, a dog or a monkey ...get a Burmese! That is certainly true. They offer all the cuddly comfort of a cat, they fetch like a dog and they leap up great heights like monkeys. Zeppo, in particular loves to sit on our shoulders, since he was a kitten onward that seems to have been his comfort zone .

Arthur says, “Zeppo makes me feel like a pirate of old. It seems that if you are anywhere near him he leaps up on your torso and climbs to your right shoulder, sits there looking at the world going by. Do you think that I look a little like Errol Flynn in his pirate movies with a parrot on my shoulder? I feel like singing " Fifteen men on a dead mans chest....yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.."
Baby brother, Zooko is more Earthbound, he flops at your feet and stretches out and begs to have him tummy rubbed and loves to curl up in Arthur’s lap.

Zeppo and Zooko are both funny little characters. They love to keep me company on their “Crow’s Nest” in the kitchen or sit in Arthur’s director’s chair and supervise. I hear Arthur laughing out loud several times per day at their antics. They brighten our lives and delight us day after day.



MELISSA & DOUG
Thinking BIG!

Molly had lobbied her parents for five years to bring a dog into the family. Finally, Melissa relented but told Molly that she had to research the possibilities. So young six year old Molly was shown by an Aunt how to use the Internet to research dogs. A month later, Molly gave Melissa a post-it with several dogs listed that she believed would make a good pet. The list included, Great Dane, Mastiff, Boxer and Bernese.

You can see Molly was thinking BIG! The Bernese won out over the rest of the list. For those not familiar with this breed, The Bernese is one of four Swiss sennenhunds (dogs of the Alpine herdsmen). His name comes from the Swiss canton of Berne, where he guarded the farm, pulled milk carts to the dairy, and drove cows to and from pasture. They are also known for being able to find a person lost in deep snow.
The Gibson family has little use for those qualities but Bernese are also known to be sweet, gentle pets.
There were three names were submitted for consideration:
Doug ....”Jake”
Gordon..”Rocket”
Molly.....”Freckles”
However, Bailey was the name that won out. Bailey, along with his siblings, was a “poster “ dog for Berners 2004 Calendar (through the Lone Star Bernese Club) because he came from a litter of seventeen (17) puppies, that is a world record! The family quickly fell in love with Bailey....EVEN Doug who was reluctant to the idea of bringing a big dog into the newly renovated home. Here are two photos of Doug on Day One of Bailey being a member of the family.



Lannom Family:
A search for kittens brings them Lewis and Clark.

Linda glows as she says, We do have a 5 year old cat, Clark, an intrepid explorer, who was bred by a vet in Silver Spring to look like a mountain lion. Clark bears a slight resemblance to a mountain lion, has an excellent sense of humor and an engaging personality, in general, AND he plays fetch.

Marcy visited with Linda and learned that when Linda and Paul had decided to bring some new kittens into their lives, they chose two brothers. Because of their inquisitive nature, they named them, Lewis and Clark. Sadly, his brother, Lewis, is no longer with them, but they were quite a team in their day. The breed is officially named Puma and the resemblance to mountain cats is extraordinary, golden eyes, a coat that is silky with taupe and black tones on a taut and muscular body.

Clark is not skittish at all and, in fact, proved his calm under emergency situations during the gas leak on Leland Street last fall. Linda returned from work to discover HazMat vehicles and fire trucks on the street and was told that she could not enter her home. She appealed to a female in fire rescue garb to rescue her cat. This woman walked into the Lannom home, picked up Clark and brought her out to Linda’s protective arms.

Linda held Clark in her lap for the long afternoon, as she sat with Florence, Farrell and other neighbors including Maizie, the Cosmas Bull Dog,...and Clark was not even in a cat tote the whole while! Clark is a very social cat and clearly pampered and loved.

Ann Lee:
A calmly energetic companion.

Kali came to me when my previous dog, Gillian, died at the age of fifteen years old and left me devastated. Michael found Kali, just a tiny puppy, on the Internet. I must say I had absolutely no intention of getting another dog, but along came Kali. Michael slept next to her cage at night in order to train her--and he did a great job. I found her name, which means "Energetic", in a book, although she turned out to be a pretty calm dog. She has provided enormous companionship since Dave died.

Kali has been pretty much by herself until recently when Michael has been bringing his dog, Marley, over during the weekdays fearing Marley would get bored at his apartment. It took Kali a little time to adjust to Marley who is only 2 years old while Kali is 8, but I think Kali has gotten a second wind--they enjoy each other.

Lippold Family:
A small’Ish” dog makes a big difference in their life.

Anne researched dog breeds before bringing their precious, Ishkabible into their lives. She knew she wanted a small dog and discovered the Coton De Tulear breed. The qualities that appealed to her were that they do not bark, they don’t shed, have no scent and live to be eighteen years old. Anne says the dog holds promise to out live her and actually had a funny dream about a “Leona Helmsley clause” in her will. (Leona’s dog recently inherited millions of dollars). Ishkabible is a great little traveler. She flew to Moran, Wyoming with Anne and Paul for the summer.While staying at their Wyoming home, Anne walks to a little cafe in town three or four times per week. It is a six mile walk round trip and Ishkabible takes the walk with her. She says they pass all sorts of wild life, including bears and moose and finds that she is never bothered. She sort of says hello and keeps walking and so does the wildlife. Ishkabible reacts as if it is all part of her summer vacation. Iskabible is a loving pet and is also a terrific companion for Paul.


Strother Family:
Love at first sight.

Chalupa is a Cocker Spaniel. William named him, Chalupa, inspired by the character in the Taco Bell commercials. Can you see the resemblance?!
The Strother family went to the pound to select a dog. Cockers were the sentimental favorite for Jim because as a boy he had cocker spaniels.
There was a thought of bringing home a Husky, but they thought William would be airborne trying to walk a dog of that breed. They spotted Chalupa, jumping up and down in the cage and looking so very friendly. They were charmed from at first sigh, they took her out and played with her and decided this was the dog for them. He rolled over in the snow and was adorable. As soon as they got him home, he immediately ate Jim’s lunch!

Chalupa, nicknamed Chewie, is now about ten years old. They have had him for eight years.
He is a good pet, very lively and curious and probably wonders why the St. Albans mascot of the front steps never responds to his pleas for attention.

Trocchio Family:
Julie Trocchio can often be spotted walking her beagle, Lady, as well as Jennie's dog.


Vicente Family:
Leland neighbors fondly remember Watson:

Wendy shares some memories: We got him through the German Shepherd Rescue League. At first, Vike wasn't taken with him because he did not have the traditional stand-up German Shepherd ears, but I found his floppy ears endearing . . . and, as Vike had been making puppy-dog eyes at me for every birthday and holiday since we had been married (what do you want for your birthday? “Arf!”) . . . Vike was more than happy to take Watson home with us. Watson was a dear, sweet friend. We miss him especially now that we have a toddler in the early eating phases of life. With Mark, I have no memories of ever using a broom and dustpan in the kitchen. Watson, however, passed away just before Peter was born. And kitchen clean-up is hard work! We remember him fondly and miss him very much.


Daniels-Wolff Family:
A source of immeasurable delight.

Miriam shares the story of how Toby came to their family: Toby is actually Becky's dog. We bought him from a breeder in Virginia the summer before Becky started High School. She switched from Holton Arms to Georgetown Day School - not an easy time in a girl's life. Becky of course did endless research on the internet and we searched for a rescue dog or a pound dog - mostly they were too big. Our dog had to be small but not too small - he needed to have character. We almost bought a King Charles Spaniel in Norfolk ,Virginia - then we looked at each other on our way back to pick him up and both said - " NO Way".

Toby is now 8 years old. Its funny to think of Becky's High School and College years passing as Toby has grown up. Of course, he does not accept middle age. Now, Toby is my dog but David reports that he and Toby bonded while Larry and I were in Florida for the week. Larry has come to love Toby as well.

I never had a dog as a young person. I recommend it to everyone. Dogs are close to the ground - they keep you real - they keep you attached to the out of doors where they demand to be walked and you get to see your neighbors as you take endless walks around the block. Sometimes they demand a hike in Rock Creek Park - great fun. Plus they are warm and furry on a cold day in winter.

Bateman Family:

For thirteen peaceful happy years the Bateman family had the pleasure of sharing our home with Teddybear, our terrier-poodle. Teddybear was, as his oh-so-fitting name implied, a wonderfully serene and sweet-tempered dog, and beloved (and spoiled!) member of the family.

Then one day a wire-haired fox terrier came bounding into the picture, and turned our home upside down. Though small in stature, Rugby’s personality and ego befit a Great Dane, (In an effort to tighten her grasp on reality, we have often considered taking her to the zoo to show her that there are, in fact, animals MUCH bigger than she is).
Though we miss our full house, as Teddybear passed on last spring, Rugby remains to keep us on our toes. Her vivacious persona and knack for trouble keep us constantly entertained, and her loving nature has firmly established her as a well-loved institution in the Bateman household.



Molly and Gordon Gibson Debut on Animal Planet Channel
Molly and Gordon were on tv because of Bailey. Molly loves the Animal Planet channel, so when it it held an Expo in a park in Gaithersburg, of course we went (with Bailey). They had a booth, were they were recording dog stories, Bailey could not be convinced to enter the booth, but Molly and Gordon went in and told a funny Bailey story. We didn't think anything else about it, then at least 6 months later, Molly was in school and her friends (and people she didn't know) came up to her and told her that they saw her on tv. Of course, we missed the clip, but it was fun to know that it aired. [The story was about a trip to my mom's. When it time to go home, of course my mom grabs an extra hug from Molly and then Gordon before they scramble into their seats. It's normal for Bailey not to get into the car until he sees that both children are safely in their seats- he has a bit of Nana in him- but after my mom kissed Molly and Gordon, Bailey would not put his paws up to jump in. Instead he kept looking at "grandma." After fruitlessly trying to get him to the car, we finally realized that he wanted his kiss from Grandma too. Grandma bent down and gave Bailey a kiss, then he scrambled directly to the car to go home. Bailey got his kiss, and with that story, Molly and Gordon got their tv debut]