FULL HOUSE
2 PARENTS + 4 KIDS + 20 PETS By Laura Murphy • Photo by Jamie Alexander
U
Heather and Bryson Phillips enjoy
are actually allergic to the saliva when cats
having a full house. In addition to
groom their fur with it. Since the allergens
their four children Ashton (age 15),
are from the saliva, even hairless cats are not
Ella (age 13), Annalise (age 6), and Lennon (age 3),
hypoallergenic.
they are also the proud owners of 20 pets. Their
love for animals has allowed them to teach their
fluffy,” Phillips said. “Siberian cats are unique
children about the unique needs of animals and
and act more like a dog. When you call him, he
about taking ownership for their care.
comes running to you.”
“They each have their own pets and then
“Our hypoallergenic cat is actually really
Each of their animals requires unique care.
we have the family pets,” Heather Phillips said.
The sand boa is a type of snake that burrows
“Each of my kids have responsibilities taking
down in the sand. Phillips says that this type of
care of the pets who stay in their room.”
snake cannot escape because they cannot climb
and grip. Ashton takes the snake out once a
Lennon has a fish tank which he gets help
cleaning each week. Annalise has four crabs and
week to feed it tiny mice.
a chinchilla, Ella has a hamster and a recently
acquired ferret, and Ashton has a Chinese
Annalise clean the chinchilla cage,” Phillips said.
Crested Chihuahua mix and sand boa living in
“I have a pop up tent the kids all get in with the
his room.
sugar gliders. They climb all over us and jump
on us — all six of them.”
“The kids are pretty responsible for feeding
“I help the 3-year-old feed his fish and I help
the ones in their rooms and cleaning the cages,”
Phillips said. “They do really well. Everyone
and said she can recall her parents allowing her
takes care of their stuff and everyone does a
to have pretty much whatever she wanted in the
great job. My husband lets me do it because he
way of pets. She had four sugar gliders, a fish
knows I love it.”
tank and a dog living in her room when she was
in high school.
Family pets include Malone, a Standard
Growing up, Phillips lived in the country
Poodle, six sugar gliders and a parrot they
owned until recently. Phillips said her younger
really heard of sugar gliders,” she said. “I loved
two children are allergic to tree nuts so they had
having animals in the home. All of them have
to rehome the bird because one of her children
different personalities.”
kept grabbing the food.
“This was 20 years ago when no one had
There are many benefits to having a variety
The family has another unique pet, a
of pets in the home. Phillips believes it is
hypoallergenic Siberian cat named Kush. Since
beneficial to teach the kids about the specific
the family has allergies to regular cats, this pet
care required and different food needed for each
was the perfect fit for them.
of their pets.
According to Phillips, hypoallergenic cats
“Our own kids love it,” she said. “A lot of the
are missing a certain enzyme that other cats
kids’ friends are scared of some of our animals.
have. She says contrary to popular belief, people
People get freaked out by stuff that’s different.”
June // July 2020 . OWENSBORO PARENT
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