The Secret Life of Pets (& their owners)

Talk to us a little bit about how you and your pet found each other…

Enga:
Amoeba and I got together because of the pandemic. He made an unfortunate time in my life so sweet. I wanted a cat companion for some time and had learned about Sphynx cats. I leaped when I found a family on craigslist whose two sphynx cats made a litter. He was the last one left and the second I arrived he jumped right into my bag. 

Brian:
I wanted a ball python for a long time, but couldn’t afford one until I got my first job out of college. A week into the job, I was already scouring the internet for every snake breeder in America, requesting catalogs and family trees. I decided on my favorite breed and found a breeder in Detroit who had been breeding snakes for like, fifty generations, which was important to me. I wanted a sweet snake. After seeing the pictures of the most recent nest, Gala was a no-brainer. Her spots were perfectly placed. They shipped her to the gallery I worked at in the smallest little box. She was tiny like a worm and so docile. And to be clear, she was the first snake I ever met, and still the only one I’ve met, 4 years later!

Carolyne
Ollie Pocket and I met on April 1, 2017. I had a childhood friend visiting from Georgia, and by her last day in NYC, we’d spent all our money and wanted to do something cute but free. I suggested we go visit an animal shelter and hopefully walk one of the dogs. We went to Barc Shelter in Williamsburg, and when 9-month-old Ollie and I locked eyes my heart completely melted, grew, and broke all at the same time. I immediately applied for him, and they let me take him home a week later. Having Ollie and his love has elevated my life and warmed me in ways I never knew were possible.

Mia
We found each other by fate and destiny. 

Andrew
I hadn’t planned on getting a dog, but fate brought us together. Bruno was a life raft in an ocean of solitude. He’s big on snuggling, and that’s just what was missing from my life.

Laura & Nir
Ouzo came to us first from a pet store in Greenpoint. It’s not a great environment for animals, and she was predictably very hesitant around humans. Over the years, it was pretty spectacular to watch her warm up and slowly begin to trust us, though not entirely- just enough to join us when we bribed her with food or she got too curious about what Oso was up to with us. Sadly, Ouzo passed away since these photos were taken, so it’s pretty special to have her commemorated like this. She was a really interesting and sweet lady. After deciding not to support the pet store system anymore, Oso came to us via a Craigslist ad. We drove out to New Jersey and brought him back in a teeny cage, and he was loving and curious from the beginning.

Jo
There’s two stories about how George and I met each other. The first is that I saw him walking down the street, picked him up and we fell in love. The second is the real story. We are in love either way so I’ll keep the story about how we actually met a secret.

What makes your relationship with your pet different from other relationships you have?

Enga
Amoeba is a total libra through and through. He’s super friendly and social and he always wants to be in the mix. When I have friends over he doesn’t shy away, he’ll run right up to a friend, sit on their lap and demand attention. He’s playful and talkative, but he also has a bitchy, moody side to him. He can be super petty. He’s different from my friends in the sense that my relationships are usually super peaceful. He’s the source of the drama in my life. My roommate once said that he plays hard and cuddles even harder.

Brian
Well, she’s a snake, so you can imagine. She feels more like a mythical creature than a pet. There’s no communication between us. I sacrifice dead rats to her, and her heavy body breaks all the plants I give her. She returns it with her magical energy: she’s in all my dreams, I taught her how to give me a kiss, and one day she’ll lay eggs.

Carolyne
My relationship with Ollie is completely amorphous. We’re mother and son, best friends, we’re certainly in love and at times we even fight like sisters! The love I have with Ollie is unconditional and feels so pure. He sees me how I hope to be perceived, and taking care of him is truly an honor. Being accountable and reliable for him has helped shape my self-concept and has given me a lot of confidence. My life became sweeter and more authentic when Ollie entered it. On a lighter note, he is the silliest little creature I know, and it feels like we’re constantly making each other laugh!

Mia
Chama and I are soulmates. 

Andrew
Bruno brings out the best in me, more than anyone I’ve ever met. The greatest compliment is to hear that he and I seem alike — I think that has more to do with his influence than mine 🙂

Laura & Nir
They have their own society that we think we understand, but surely we don’t see even a fraction of it. They depend on us, even if we can’t claim them on our taxes. It’s a big responsibility, and it changes the way you prioritize your time.

Jo
It’s hard to hug a tortoise and get a hug back, but despire that, we manage to hug every single day. George reminds me about the health benefits of romaine lettuce and he loves biting peoples toes. I don’t know any humans like him.

What do you think your pet would say about you?

Enga
“Girl, get it together” 

Brian
She’d say that I’m a freak. “Snakes don’t like dancing! Or baths! Or five people in a circle touching me at the same time! However, I do like going to the park, and I refuse to eat until we go.”

Carolyne
I think Ollie would say that being with me feels safe and warm. I think he would say that at times I can be a little strange and some of the songs I make up about him could use some work, but he does still love them (I hope). Our love makes me believe in miracles. I feel like he also knows that we’re meant to be. 

Mia
“Best mom in the world.” 

Andrew
I think he’d say ‘Thank you.’ He’s genuinely so pleased to be spending time together, whether at the park on the water or cozied up on the couch. He says as much without using words. I can only hope he knows how thankful I am for him.

Laura & Nir
I’m sure they have plenty to say, they barely stop talking as it is. I haven’t quite figured out what about yet. Maybe “Good morning,” maybe “switch back to the old seed mix please.” I hope “I love you.”

Jo
Even though George doesn’t talk the way humans do, he’s always speaking to be with his eyes. He’s really good at letting me know when he wants to explore scenery other than his tank and if I’m lucky, he’ll wink at me and let me know that everything is going to be okay.