Mark Smith with his 14-year-old Eclectus parrot, Barney. Scott Neville View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

View the Spotsylvania County community page

Today's the day to shower all those pets with tons of love

Today is 'Love Your Pet Day'

By KRISTIN DAVIS

Date published: 2/20/2005

By KRISTIN DAVIS

EVEN-YEAR-OLD Brandon Schrader told Santa his heart's desire: a sticky-footed White's tree frog.

Santa wasn't sure. It's awfully cold in the North Pole for an exotic reptile, he said. But Brandon was adamant. He knew exactly where Santa could find the frog.

His big sister works at a pet store that sells them.

Santa did not disappoint. Mr. Sticky, a palm-sized, blue-green White's tree frog, was delivered in time for Christmas. Sister Diana provided the setup--the aquarium and the greenery and the live crickets for mealtime.

Brandon, a second-grader at Spotsylvania County's Harrison Road Elementary, has always loved frogs. He caught them from nature, mother Judy said.

"We told him, 'frogs from nature have to stay in nature.'"

But White's tree frogs, native to Indonesia and Australia, are OK to keep in captivity. And Mr. Sticky quickly proved one of the easiest pets ever in the Schraders' zoolike household.

The cage must stay at 70 degrees. The frogs need daily feedings and a spritz of water to keep their slick bodies moist. That's it.

But soon after the frog's arrival, there was a little problem. Brandon thought Mr. Sticky was sad and lonely.

Enter Mrs. Sticky. She's a bluer shade than the mister.

"They stay side by side in their cave," Judy said.

Brandon has happily taken on responsibility for both. He makes sure hands are washed before handling. No one can tap on the glass.

"I play with them, pet them, talk to them," Brandon said. "They're really gentle. They're really good friends. But they're not very good at cooperating."

Today is the day pet owners across America should bask in the love they feel for their finned or furry or scaly or feathery friends.

Take an extra moment to nuzzle your pot-bellied pig, to wrap that 12-foot Burmese python in your arms. Treasure the joy only these creatures can bring.

It's Love Your Pet Day.

As if we really needed such a day. There are more pets than people in the United States--378 million of them versus 290 million of us, according to a survey by American Pet Products Manufacturers.

We own 78 million cats and 65 million dogs. More than 17 million birds and 9 million reptiles. And then there's the fish--all 192 million of them.

Follow us on

Date published: 2/20/2005