As all pet owners know, our pets are the greatest part of our day, and they make coming home from work or school so much better. But, since everyone is social distancing and staying at home, we get to be around them and play with them all day long. The Wesleyan community has a variety of pets, ranging from Director of Christian Life Greg Lisson’s sweet dog, Sam, to High School English Teacher Katie Wischerth’s handsome kitty, Ernie. But the question is, what have these wonderful creatures been up to during quarantine? I asked many Wesleyan students and faculty to tell me a little bit about what their beloved companions have been up to during this time. Here is what they said:
Bella Maxwell
Owners: Sophomore Mackenzie Maxwell and 8th grader Reagan Maxwell
Age: Bella is two years old.
Type of animal/breed: Dog – Cavapoo
Tricks: Bella can shake, high five, roll over, sit, jump, spin and stand
What they’ve been up to during quarantine: Hanging out with her owners, Mackenzie and Reagan Maxwell, and playing outside.
Ernie Wischerth
Owner: Katie Wischerth
Age: Ernie is four years old.
Type of animal/breed: Rescued by Santa, orange tabby cat
Tricks: Ernie enjoys chasing foil balls, hiding small trinkets, sleeping (a lot) and jumping very high to catch string
What they’ve been up to during quarantine: Sleeping (a lot), hiding in Addie’s bed (not allowed), and being a really good sport with all of his owners at home!
Jagger Di Lenardo
Owner: Junior Gian Luca Di Lenardo
Age: Jagger is four years old.
Type of animal/breed: Dog – Sheltie
Trick(s): Jagger can howl like a wolf on command
What they’ve been up to during quarantine: Jagger has been going on long walks and eating large meals
Charlie and Henry Ortwein
Owner: Senior Mary Ortwein
Age: Charlie is ten years old and Henry is five years old.
Type of animal/breed: Dog – Charlie is a cavapoo (a mix between a cavalier King Charles spaniel and a poodle) and Henry is a miniature schnauzer.
Tricks: Both Charlie and Henry know how to sit and shake.
What they’ve been up to during quarintine: Charlie is pretty lazy, so he just sleeps all day and begs for food. However, Henry likes to play with his toys, bother Charlie, go on walks and he also enjoys taking a good nap like his brother Charlie.
Kiwi Kim
Owner: Sophomore Kayla Kim
Age: Kiwi is four years old.
Type of animal/breed: Bird – Green Cheeck Conure
Tricks: Kiwi can go on her left/right foot on command, say hello, give cuddles, go up (on hand) and follow the leader.
What they’ve been up to during quarantine: According to Kayla, Kiwi has been “eating, eating, EATING, singing, playing, cuddling, sleeping…. and repeating every day
Sam Lisson
Owners: Greg Lisson and Megan Trotter
Age: Sam is three years old… but he says almost four
Type of animal/breed: Dog – Golden Retriever
Tricks: Sam can high five, stand up, play dead and go to your room (when he’s bad)
What they’ve been up to during quarantine: He loves the quarantine because it means he’s never alone! He loves being with people more than anything, so he just tags along with everything his owners are doing. Watching TV, going on hikes, taking car rides, filming class videos, whatever!
Tex Pennington
Owner: Sophomore Ryan Pennington
Age: Tex is 14 years old.
Type of animal/breed: Horse
Tricks: Tex can roll over.
What they’ve been up to during quarantine: He has been working on trail riding during Quarantine. He is from Texas- hence the name. He was also saved from a slaughterhouse.
Revi Bufton
Owner: Alex Bufton
Age: Revi is six months old
Type of animal/breed: Dog – Cavapoo
Tricks: Revi can sit, shake and get down. Also, she has been working on playing dead!
What they’ve been up to during quarantine: She is recovering from getting spayed and enjoying being free to roam the house all day.
Holly, Lewis and Clark Archer
Lewis (left) and Clark (right) posing for a picture. Caroline Archer.
Owners: Sophomores Caroline and Kendrick archer and senior Ellie Archer.
Age: Lewis and Clark are eight, Holly is one and a half
Type of animal/breed: Lewis and Clark are both terrier mixes and Holly is an Australian kelpie mix.
Tricks: Lewis can sit, shake, roll over and dance. Clark can sit, roll over and dance. Holly can sit, lie down and shake
What they’ve been up to during quarantine: Holly has been busy practicing her soccer skills in the backyard and barking at the neighbors through the windows. Lewis is very interested in distance learning and loves getting belly rubs during study breaks. He also dyed his hair pink to celebrate Easter. Clark has enjoyed relaxing during quarantine and has been catching up on his favorite tv shows. When he’s not sleeping, he likes to bark at squirrels that get too close to the house.
Oscar Khedouri
Owner: Marc Khedouri
Age: Oscar is 14 years old.
Type of animal/breed: Dog – Boxer
Tricks: Oscar believes that “trix are for kids”
What they’ve been up to during quarantine: He has been engaging in distance learning despite the lack of opposable thumbs. He’s a trooper. Resilient and brave.
Ellie Bennison
Ellie being held by one of her owners. Hannah Bennison
Owner: Hannah Bennison
Age: Ellie is still a puppy; she is only 5 months old.
Type of animal/breed: Dog – King Charles spaniel
Tricks: Ellie is still working on learning some tricks since she is a puppy, but she is getting the hang of sit and stay pretty well.
What they’ve been up to during quarantine: Ellie has been going on countless long walks and playing fetch outside and being as active as she can be.
Daisy Emmelhainz
Owner: Nathan Emmelhainz, 6th grader Hannah Emmelhainz, Sophomore Erinae Emmelhainz and Senior Abi Emmelhainz
Age: Daisy is four years old.
Type of animal/breed: Dog – half Australian shepherd & half English shepherd
Tricks: Daisy can catch a ball or a frisbee in the air and play volleyball (throwing a ball in the air and letting her hit it back with her mouth)
What they’ve been up to during quarantine: She has been wondering around the house a lot and going on more walks with all this free time.
