The real hurdle in reuniting stolen pets is proof of ownership. — Seven young Caiman crocodiles float in their baby blue kiddie pool. We’re in the basement of a brick ranch style home, in a beautiful residential neighborhood in Illinois, looking down at olive green eyes looking up at us. “I have an exotic dealer who calls me when he’s got something…

“I just do things.” Heath Ledger’s Joker attempting to explain himself. Set aside the fact he’s unstable, dangerous, and cuts to the chase and throats of problems that get in his way. He has a strong belief in the whys of himself. “Creativity is a wild mind and a disciplined…

“She just showed up! Right over there. She was really interested in our dog, Bruiser. And Bruiser was interested in her.” Marly Kinzer laughed. Living five minutes out of downtown St. Petersburg, she hadn’t been looking for coyotes. But, by living near a lake, and three wildlife preserves, she should…

Parrots aren’t complicated. They’re just a lot of work, and misleading beliefs make the work harder. Stories and absolutes with qualifiers like, “I’ve been breeding macaws for forty years! You’re wrong.” Qualifying statements of grandeur that exhaust the senses because of one irrefutable truth. No one knows your life, lifestyle…

Florida is a crucible of native and non-native species, including humans, that have thrived in the state’s diverse ecosystems. Warm temperatures sustain a subtropical climate that supports adaptable life. The intriguing point being that most of invasive species were introduced by humans rather than just meandering their way from far-away…

“We don’t have enough dog parks here.” Sandra Harris, downtown resident and accountant. She has her one dog. A rescue mix of shepherd and hound. “We did. I remember back in 2009 this place was so quiet during the weekdays. You had to come back and visit on the weekends…

A Directions for the Confused Article, by Felix, the not confused parrot. — “Do want breakfast, Felix?” “Felix, do want breakfast, or not?” You know it is going to be a long day when your human asks that question first. Companion humans try. But they think alone, alsotoo. Which is where you can start with the positive reinforcements. Next time you are napping…

“HUH?” Butters, blue and gold macaw, wearing her harness and leashed to my wrist. We step outside onto the front porch. She hisses. Her good hiss, not the bad one. It’s equivalent to a human, “Whoa.” She doesn’t mind being outside as long as there’s something above her head. Tree…

Felis silvestris lybica, wildcats, in the Fertile Crescent during the Near East Neolithic period, and again in ancient Egypt during the Classical period. Timing aside, Felis silvestris lybica domesticated large numbers of humans along their timeline in history. “In ancient times, cats were worshiped as gods; they have not forgotten…