Last week’s column extolled the virtues of my officemate Hermann’s tortoise. Over the weekend, a curious reader asked just how many different types of animals I’ve actually lived with — and, which is “The Best”? As to types: Lots. If this was an Academy Awards...

Last week’s column extolled the virtues of my officemate Hermann’s tortoise. Over the weekend, a curious reader asked just how many different types of animals I’ve actually lived with — and, which is “The Best”? As to types: Lots. If this was an Academy Awards...

Astute reader Steven points out that my recent column was not the first time I referenced a tortoise sitting on my foot, and asked for more details. First, can I say how annoying it is to be discovered repeating myself? Getting beyond that ... My foot-straddling...

Last week I gave unsolicited and likely unwanted marriage advice to Roberta whose husband’s animal allergies left their kid deprived if not psychologically abused. Since The Daily Journal’s editors demonstrated no common sense in printing that, what’s to stop me from...

Roberta writes: “My husband is highly allergic to fur which means no pets. Bad as that is for me, a pet is all our sixth-grader wants. What to do?” First, are you sure he’s the right guy? Husbands come and go but an animal’s love is forever (OK, maybe I’d best leave...

As a purveyor of gently used pets (yes, I’ve been called that) it’s fair to say I am in the love business. With that credential, especially in light of tomorrow’s holiday, it’s time to take a public stance on a topic which makes me crazy. Here it is: There is a...

I was taught three attributes distinguish us from the “lesser” animals: language, tool use, agriculture. Anyone who occasionally looks at my ramblings knows I am a closet science nerd and drawn to studies (and there have been many) which show we are not the only...

Here we are, halfway between calorie-intense holiday season and chocolate-is-king Valentine’s Day, all struggling (probably without success) to meet our exercise and diet New Year’s resolution. What the heck, if we can’t control our own eating habits then should it...

Strangers often asked about Archie “what is he?” certain my handsome mutt was some rare breed. I once answered, completely straight-faced, “Lithuanian Water Collie” which earned the following response: “Oh! I read about them online!” But how reliable is the internet’s...

I’ve never loved cold weather and frankly don’t get the appeal of racing down mountains on skinny fiberglass boards. But as other Bay Area residents load their cars with skis and sweaters for the drive to the year-round beautiful Sierra Nevada, many are also taking...

So, you’re going to drop 20 pounds by Valentine’s Day, learn conversational Italian and take up ballroom dancing. Really, that’s your plan for the new year? Me? I’m thinking this is the year for New Year’s resolutions we can actually keep. Here’s a few I suggest, all...