Pets of the Month

69,000 remaining as of August of 2019.

Lower marks go to these moms, who may never win the title Mother of the Year: Hamster mothers have been known to eat their young. There are several reasons they may do this, including stress, fear, not having enough to eat, and the inability to care for a large litter. Additionally, if a mother hamster detects a human smell on one of her offspring, she won’t be able to recognize them and will consume what she considers to be an intruder.

Nearing extinction, Darwin frogs, found in the forest streams of Chile and Argentina, are very hands off mothers. Fortunately, male Darwin dads make up for this as a mom’s only job after mating is to lay approximately 40 eggs; males then guard the eggs for a few weeks and then swallow a handful of them. The eggs remain in dad’s vocal sac for around two months until he expels fully formed frogs.

The award for worst animal mother, however, goes to the cuckoo. The female cuckoo lays her egg in another bird’s nest (known as brood parasitism). She will eat one or more of the other bird’s eggs to make room for the cuckoo egg. The owner of the nest will hatch the egg and raise it as her own. The cuckoo chick is also able to replicate the sounds of the host’s chicks. When the chick hatches from its egg, it pushes out the other eggs in the nest leaving itself as the only child. The new parent raises the cuckoo as its own. She never seems to notice the different attributes its child has, such as its huge size or coloring. The foster parent just assumes that whatever hatches in their nest is their own.

Here’s wishing a Happy Mother’s Day to all moms everywhere!

Jaime Stephens lives in Alexandria with her husband, John, and cats Pookie and tripod OJ.

Bath & Primp • Nail Trim & le • Full Haircut Deshed • Theraclean Treatment • Teeth Brushing Hair Coloring • Exotic Grooming Gianna Schjang, Gabriella Brown • Paw Spa LLC 315 South Washington Street, Alexandria 22314 703-517-4428 • www.thepawspava.com Love. Brush. Groom. Repeat.

PETS

OF THE MONTH

4101 Eisenhower Avenue Alexandria, VA 703-746-4774 alexandriaanimals.org Mon-Fri, 1-8 pm Closed Wed Sat & Sun, 12-5 pm

BIANCA

1 Year Old, Female, White Mouse

Little friends often have the biggest personalities. Spend some time with Bianca and you’ll see! You would never know a mouse could have this much fun, whether it’s burrowing tunnels in her tank or sniffing out hidden treats, and she can’t wait to have a best friend who will enjoy every fun moment with her. Could it be you? Schedule an appointment to adopt Bianca today! Bianca’s photo courtesy of AWLA.

Adopt by appointment at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. Schedule an in-person or virtual appointment at AlexandriaAnimals.org/Adopt-By-Appointment.

SOXIE

3 Year Old, Female, Black and White Domestic Shorthair

Hi there! My name is Soxie and I am an adorable three-year-old black and white kitty patiently waiting for the right person to take me home. They call me Soxie because of the cute white “socks” on my feet. But that is just one of my endearing features — I have the longest white whiskers on an all-black face and the most beautiful green eyes you have ever seen! I can be a little shy when meeting new people but warm up very quickly. I am an active cat and like to play — both with toys and people. But because I can get a little overly enthusiastic when playing, I would do best in a home with children over the age of 12. I love being around people — especially if they give me lots of pets and scratches! I can be a very affectionate girl and would be happy just being by your side all day. So if you think we can be a match, make an appointment so we can meet. You will be glad you did! Soxie’s photo courtesy of Alison Lane Photography

COCO

6 Year Old, Female, White and Brown Staffordshire Terrier

Let me introduce myself — my name is Coco and I am a beautiful six-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier looking to be part of a loving family. I am a fun girl who loves to play with toys, especially the squeaky ones — they are the best! I am a very sweet and affectionate pup who loves being around people. I am a little more selective, however, when it comes to my four-legged friends. As I like to be the center of attention, I would do best in a home where I am the only dog. I can see myself cuddling up on the coach with you at the end of a long day. I am a very loyal girl who will make someone a great companion. You will never have to worry about where I am because I will always be by your side. So if you are looking for a loving companion to spend your days with, give me a try. I can’t wait to meet you! Coco’s photo courtesy of Dirty Paw Photography