A rare moment with Noel, Nine, and Mini Cooper all looking out the door probably at a squirrel or bird on the deck.
It is not often that these 3 do anything together, and definitely not cooperatively. According to my research, there may exist a very loose dominance hierarchy amongst a group of cats, but they do not form an interdependent hierarchy as dogs do. That means that they do not have a pack mentality, though they can gang together for survival, usually around food (hence feral cat colonies in the wild). The other interesting thing I learned today is that cats have relatively limited ability for complex visual signally, which we see in other animals that form social groups, because cats largely developed as solitary hunters, without the need for complex social interaction between each other. Not having this signally ability can lead to more fighting (basically they don’t understand what the other wants). It is all starting to make sense to me now…..
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
Tags: Animal, animals, Black and White Sunday, blog hop, cat colonies, cat social structure, cats, DogDaz, Multi-Cat Homes, Pet, pets
Mr. Nine, our 9th cat, is 9 years young today. He is a wonderful Tomcat. He loves to butt heads and kiss faces with you. Lately, he is very sweet on Louise and likes to kiss on her too. His favorite pass time is stacking the cave crickets in the laundry room when he is not looking down on you from the rafters. A good-natured cat, he rarely gets into to much trouble.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Big Boy!!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Cat, cat blog, DogDaz, lorian lipton, pet blog
Google images
These Ground Hogs are such funny weather predicting creatures. They have names like woodchuck, land-beaver, and whistle-pig. Our regional prognosticator is named Punxsutawney Phil. Phil is known as the “Seer of Seers,” the “Prognosticator of Prognosticators” and the “Most Photographed Pennsylvanian.” People in Pennsylvania dress up in top hats and tails and have this whole big event each year to see if we are going to have an early spring or late winter. Leave it to a rodent to let us know.
Groundhog day actually designates the middle point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. There are 6 more weeks until the Vernal Equinox, which marks the beginning of spring. No matter what Phil says – SPRING IS COMING!!!!! Make way for crocus and daffodils.
Just another DogDaz morning at the Zoo 
Tags: animal awareness, Animal welfare, animals, DogDaz, ground hog, land beaver, lorian lipton, whistle pig, woodchuck
Mom! Louise has all the toys and she isn’t sharing.
This picture is from 2013. It cracks me up. Sofie still does this 7 years later. Steps are a great vantage point, and also, it seems her body fits perfectly. I have found over the years, especially because I document almost everything, that behaviors don’t change much. Louise never lies on the steps. Maybe because she is too big? Charles will sit on the steps but I have never seen him lie down. Maybe because he is too small and it would be vulnerable. Sofie’s stair is ‘Just Right.’ Now I know why I named her ‘Sofie Bear,’ because she is just like Goldilocks in the story of the Three Bears.
Illustration by Arthur Rackham, 1918
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: Blog, blog hop, dog, Dog People, dog rescue, DogBlog, DogDaz, Dogs, goldilock, lorian lipton, Pet, pets, three bears
When you look at a whole year in less than 9 minutes you realize that your life is full of moments that are so valuable. We were so blessed this year with everyone at the DogDaz Zoo staying relatively healthy and happy. We look forward to another year of moments and cuddles and licks and love. The greatest lesson I learn from documenting life with my Zoo is that consistent love and caring make everything flow in just the direction it should. Oh yes, as long as we do it Queen Noel’s way.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: 1secondaday, cat video, catblog, cats, Dog People, dog video, DogBlog, DogDaz, lorian lipton, multi animal household, pet blog, petblog
Wow! It is now 2020. My daughter, Peanut, told me the other day (she is 25), that “we will never see the ‘teens’ again in our lifetime” as we move into the twenties. Now, that is a very profound thought. It made me stop and take a pause on all the things that pass me by with little notice. How an instant, or a year or 50, is just a jumble of moments and pictures burned on the memory of my total recall. I think about all the people and the animals that have graced my time. I am so thankful that I have had this platform to document moments and days, and now years, of my Zoo. Maybe, when I no longer have the capability to recall the images in my mind, this blog will be here to remind me of how wonderful those moments were and are. Feel free to visit my Angels page to get a look at the many many many furbabies that have blessed me with their time. I am one lucky ZooKeeper and want to thank you for stopping by,
Sam & Zack 1999
Sqaush E Bear, 2006, when he first came to live with us.
Cuddles, 2002
Puppy Lulu 2010
Sofie Day 1 Feb 2011
Squash tail with Connie attached 2008
Noel & Connie 2008
Noel & Muffy 2010
Constance Kitty, Muffy, Noel, Zachary 2010
Muffy & Gertrude 2004
Muffy supervising the Guinea Pigs 2006
The Muffin Man 2002
Louise Fall 2011
Where’s Sofie? 2011
Besties 2010 (Baby Lulu and Old man Squash)
Squash & Me 2007
Sending Hugs and Love to You and Yours for a fabulous 2020!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: angels, animal awareness, animals, Cat, cat blog, Dog People, DogBlog, DogDaz, lorian lipton, Memories, new years, pet blog
Everyone at the DogDaz Zoo had a wonderful holiday. There were lots of treats and cuddles and toys and wrapping paper to chew.
Have a wonderful rest of the year
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: animal awareness, Cat, cat blog, Cat People, Dog People, DogBlog, DogDaz, Holiday, lorian lipton, multianimal household, pet blog
What a long strange trip it has been to get to 9 years old with this bundle of fluff. Sofie Bear continues to be a silly mess that we love with all our hearts.
Gotcha Day, Sofie
I remember Gotcha day so well. I meet Sofie’s foster in a parking lot outside his work. I had no car kennel so I put her in a giant rubber tube. She was so smart and precocious even at 3 months. They thought she was a collie/shepard mix. Well, she fooled them. I think she is a sheltie/chow/mischief mix.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SOFIE BEAR (aka SODA POP)
You have been my hardest dog lesson to date, but I would not trade you for a ton of non -anxious, door eating, carpet ripping, cat chasing, quiet puppies in the world.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: dog birthday, Dog People, DogBlog, DogDaz, lorian lipton, pet blog, sheltie mix
It is amazing how fast the years go. How a black dog’s muzzle starts to gray. How her eyes have that haze and can’t find cookies as easily. How she knows that if she gives me her paw that a treat may follow.
She sure has come a long way from that puppy we rescued in April 2010, covered with dry mange and with a collar embedded in her neck. Louise has always been a good girl with the family. I am so happy that she trusts me enough to enjoy her life. The last year or so, I have noticed that she is following me a little closer and has developed thunder anxiety; oh, the things that come with age. She gives me no trouble taking her medicine, she is always up for a walk, even if it is raining. And, she knows just when to come to bother me so that I get up and take a break (which I am sure she learned from Squash E. Bear before he left us).
Louise’s favorite thing is to go get a squeaky toy when she wants my attention and start to make as much noise as possible until she either gets a snack, a walk, or whatever she is wanting at the moment. She sure does have me trained. Her fav one right now is this large Jax like thing, which has sprung a stuffing leak but is still very squeakable (if you know what I mean).
Happy 10th Birthday, Big Girl! You are Mommy’s Special Princess.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
Tags: animals, dog birthday, Dog People, DogBlog, DogDaz, lorian lipton, rescue dog
DogDaz Zoo 