Being a pet owner is no easy feat; it’s a constant responsibility that rewards us in scratched furniture, ripped up rolls of toilet paper and unexpected visits to the vet. And, okay, constant companionship and entertainment. In this issue, we cover the good, the bad and the ugly of owning a furry (or scaly!) friend —from dog park etiquette and confusing cat behavior to common vet questions and end-of-life pet care. And we introduce you to some local pets with big personalities, like Pepper, a potbellied pig with a few canine cohorts, and Gizmo, a Welsh corgi who “works” downtown. …What? Somebody has to pay for all those dog bones.
By Samantha Baars, Mike Fietz, Laura Ingles, Jessica Luck and Caite White