Post by thenexttweety on Jun 25, 2008 18:51:29 GMT -5
Redding, California: When the Muellers’ 11-year-old
son, Micah, got tired of walking down their long
driveway each morning to get the newspaper, he was
inspired to teach Moxi, the family’s golden retriever, to
do the job instead. Unlike her young master, Moxi loves
every second of it. (Roxi Mueller)
Kualapuu, Hawaii: When deer began to invade their
vegetable garden, Rick and Bronwyn Cooke rigged up
a bed in the tomato house and took turns sleeping there
to keep the trespassers out. It’s also proven popular
with Bronwyn and the family dog, Tigerlilly, for after-
gardening naps. (Richard A. Cooke III)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania veterinary
student Sara Sprowls gives her Boston terrier, Dexter,
a big kiss. Sprowls loves to rescue displaced pets,
especially exotic ones. Sara also owns the Australian
bearded dragon lizard seen on her back, and Roland,
a corn snake. All the animals happily coexist in her
one-bedroom apartment. (Michael Bryant)
Lake Forest, Illinois: Estelle Walgreen enjoys the
company of Cooper, a 2-year-old Kune Kune pig, in
the living room of her mansion. Cooper usually roams
the grounds of the estate with Estelle’s other pot-bellied
pigs, Pinky and Piggy. As much as Walgreen loves
them, her neighbors do not. More than 250 people have
filed a petition to force her to give them up. A judge has
upheld her right to keep them, but Walgreen has
decided to move to the country anyway. (Alex Garcia)
Mount Holly, North Carolina: Cookie was raised with
cats, and the Flynns suspect she thinks she is one. She
likes to perch on the couch and stare out the window
with her fellow felines. (Somer Flynn)
Los Gatos, California: Homeschooling mom Jody
McCalmont always sets aside time amid math and
language lessons so her daughters, Yelena, 5 (above),
and Claire, 9, can hug their pet chickens. Today’s
homework includes counting trees and making mud
ink. (Jim Gensheimer)
Mill Valley, California: Sigrid Boehm, 71, is known as
the Mother Goose of Mill Valley -- her license plate
even reads GOOSEMOM. Boehm shares her small
condo with two geese, including the arthritic Mario,
who honks with delight while watching her frequent
television appearances. She also rehabilitates
'problem' geese and relocates them to refuges and
aviaries. (Kim Komenich)
Jonesboro, Georgia: Jerri King and her husband,
Marshal, open their home to as many as 20 wayward
cats at a time. Jerri is a member of RescueCats, an
animal rescue organization that sets up tables at area
pet stores to seek foster families for the felines. Of the
more than 150 million dogs and cats in the United
States, only about 15 percent have been adopted
from shelters. (Erik S. Lesser)
La Habra, California: Minnie is a capuchin monkey, a
species especially well suited to be monkey helpers.
They are natural tool users and are endlessly curious.
Today there are only 104 monkey helpers nationwide
— at a training cost of $30,000 each — available for
the 11 million disabled Americans who need assis-
tance with daily living. Minnie is the first monkey
helper to be placed in California.
La Habra, California: Craig Cook broke his neck in a
car accident 11 years ago and was left a paraplegic.
Getting through the day was difficult until three years
ago, when the Boston-based organization Monkey
Helpers for the Disabled introduced him to Minnie,
a companion and helper monkey who responds to
voice commands, bringing Cook whatever he needs.
La Habra, California: Minnie helps Cook finish lunch.
Besides helping with food preparation, Minnie has a
30-word command vocabulary, and can turn on the
computer and load CDs. Her favorite command: give
me a high-five. “Isn’t it cool?” says Cook proudly. As a
way of saying thanks, Cook has become a spokesman
for the Helping Hands foundation. (Misha Erwitt)
(For more America at Home photos, go to
news.yahoo.com/pageamerica_at_home)
