Who was the first animal in your life ?

“Mini Pearl” was her name. She was a tiny little mutt, part poodle, part terrier. The tiniest little dog with crooked ears. We had her from the day I was born until I was 12. She lived to be 15 !

Who are your current animal companions ?

I have no animals right now, but I was living with my roomate’s dog (recently) for a while. His name was “Otis,” a 13 year old Dalmation – the sweetest dog you will ever meet.

What is special about Otis ?

Since I was bitten on my face by a dog two times, I had a fear of dogs. But, Otis changed that for me. He was so docile and affectionate, he would greet me at the door every day and was very protective of me. We became good friends and he restored my faith in dogs. P>How did he bring joy into your life ?

He brought joy into my life by ALWAYS picking up on my energy. On September 11th, I came home devastated and hysterically crying. I was also very afraid. Otis immediately ran up to me, put his head in my lap and started licking my hand. He didn’t leave my side the whole day. I will never forget that. Though he wasn’t my dog, I felt like he was my own special pet.

What are his funniest or oddest or most loveable traits ?

He loves apples ! If he hears someone chopping apples, he comes running. We taught him to sit and jump up to catch the apple in the air.

If Otis could speak what would be his favorite saying ?

“I’m hungry. Got some apples ?!”
or: “Play with ME !”

Do you have any dog advice you can share ?

Be as loving as you can be and don’t EVER neglect the animals. I used to walk in and not say “hi” to Otis, but then I realized that he needs just as much love as us humans !

Did you have any odd wildlife experiences in your life ?

My Grandmother lived across the street from cow pastures and one morning woke up and found a cow in her backyard SWIMMING POOL ! What a sight. We called Animal Control to safely remove the cow from the pool.

Who was the first animal in your life ?

I had a dog named Happy, a mutt.

What is your earliest memory of connecting with a pet ?

I got a Chihuahua when I was 28 and fell in love with him. He was friendly and calm and very adorable. His name was Buster. But I called him Pupper.

Who are your current animal companions ?

We have Nick – a pound mutt who is half Shepard and half Lab, sandy colored and very cute. And (my daughter) Chelsea has a long-haired Chihuahua named Cloudy, but I call him Pupper.

How did you adopt Cloudy and Nick ?

We went to the local animal shelter. (My son) Parker chose Nick and Chelsea chose Cloudy.

What is the relationship like between your kids and the animals ?

They are each attached to “their” dogs. Chelsea babies Cloudy, like he was an infant. Parker plays outside with Nick.

If your animals could speak, what would be their favorite saying ?

Nick: " God it is hot in Miami.”
Cloudy: “Won’t this kid EVER put me down ?!”

What is your favorite wild animal ?

We love LOVE LOVE Dolphins. When we are in Miami we take the boat out looking for them. (My son) Blake’s first word was “Dolphin” – although it sounded a lot like “DAFFFFFN !”

Who was the first animal in your life ?

A cat named Francis. My best friend wanted me to name her Hutch because she was naming her cat Starksy, but I liked the name Francis better.

Who are your current animal companions ?

We have a Golden Retriever named Eugene. He is gold and fluffy, three years old, and pretty big. He’s got my father’s middle name.

How did you adopt Eugene ?

My friend Peter got him for me and my son from a shop near where we lived in California.

What are some of the funnier things he does ?

He gets into the bathtub without any trouble. In fact, sometimes, if you run a bath for yourself, he gets in too ! He also sits on chairs like a human. He drools when you eat toast in the kitchen in the morning. He gets into bed with my mom when my dad gets up in the middle of the night so when dad gets back into bed Eugene is in his spot.

How does he bring joy into your life ?

He is one of the best dogs ! My dad calls him “his furry son” and all of the grandkids call him “uncle Eugene.” He is gentle and never gets into any trouble. He is definitely one of us !

If Eugene could speak what would be his favorite saying ?

“Let them eat cake !”

Any dog advice you can share ?

Golden Retrievers are so GREAT with kids !

Three horses:

• Sonny
• Dutch
• Bud. “Bud is about thirty years old and is a retired movie horse. My wife rescued him from being an unhappy, tired working Hollywood horse. Living with us, he has become a beautiful happy guy !”

One pony:

• Clip-clop

One pot-belly pig:

• Larry

One cat:

• Cha Cha – a tortoise shell colored female -- the first and only cat I am not allergic to !

Five dogs:

• Goldie, a German Shepherd mix from a shelter
• Nala, a half Australian Shepherd, half chow mix from a shelter
• Jerry, a half Greyhound half German Shepherd mix from a shelter
• Sparky, a half fox terrier, half Rotweiler mix from a shelter
• Wishbone, a black Pomeranian that was a gift for my son Austin

Favorite animal story:

One of my favorite animals is the tale of Barney. One day in 1991, I was a high traffic area in downtown in Los Angeles and there was a dog – a Papillion / Welch Corgie mix -- about to get hit by a car. I grabbed this filthy, dirty dog who seemed to be lost, and I took him home – about 35 miles from where I found him. He was very unhappy and just jumping around our backyard trying to get over the wall – he even sprained his leg jumping. After we cleaned him up I realized we had to go back to that neighborhood and see where his family was. We put up signs and a few days later a truck driver called me and told me that the dog – who’s name was Barney – belonged to an old lady down the street who was dying and that the dog hates being fenced in and always gets out of the woman’s yard. The trucker had established a relationship with Barney over the years because he worked at a nearby garage and Barney used escape from his own yard, run around the neighborhood, and hang out with the trucker while he’d work on cars. I went to the woman’s house and she asked me to keep her dog. She explained that she was dying.

We took Barney home with us. We had other dogs and Barney seemed really unhappy – he kept trying to run away again. When a friend of ours expressed wanting to adopt Barney, we agreed. A few weeks later, she called us to tell us Barney was happy at first and then unhappy and kept trying to run away. Over a one year period friends would fall in love with Barney and take him – promising that they’d make him happy. But then they’d “return” him to us. He just never seemed happy. It was heartbreaking. There was nothing anyone could do to make this dog happy. Wherever he was he wanted to get out. He hated being fenced inside a yard and that is what all of our friends had.

He was a sad dog. But he was also protective and fearless. A year later, we bought a new house – much larger, with a ranch backed by a forest, and Barney was still with us. When we moved, he became a different dog. He was finally happy – truly happy. He would chase rabbits, keep the other dogs in line, be by my side whenever I was working outside. He became a constant companion. The dog had just always wanted to run free and he finally got a chance to do that. And without a fence, he was such a good boy and never went outside of the property line. He didn’t want to leave, he just wanted to have freedom.

We had Barney for a few more years. On Christmas eve in 1999, Barney died of kidney failure at 17 years old. He completely enriched our lives when he was happy, and I think we did the same for him.

Who were the first animals in your life ?
I’ve always had kitties in my life – each one different and each one special in their own way. The most significant of whom was Charlie who died only last year at the age of seven. His death was sudden and shocking but I was so lucky to have him as long as I did. He was my special little guy, who always knew when I was blue and would coo and cuddle whenever I would sing.

Who is your current animal companion ?
After Charlie’s death I was very sad and there was a void in my heart. Just recently I felt it was time. Actually it was the anniversary of his death that I started looking for a new little man in my life. We found each other just a few weeks ago and already I’m in love. His name is Bill and he is the sweetest most loving kitten I have ever known and just exactly what the doctor ordered !

Who were the first animals in your life ?
I never had a pet until this past year, but was fascinated with animals growing up. We used to catch frogs, turtles, salamanders, or anything else we could find as children. I now own a cat with my girlfriend Kristy. Her name is Sydney and she has become the queen of the castle.

Tell us about Sydney !
Sydney is the cutest little cat in the world. I think she lives for the sole purpose of being petted. Kristy is very affectionate with her and somewhere along the line, Sydney became accustomed to the attention and now expects nothing less than the same attention from me.

How did you and Sydney meet ?
Kristy adopted Sydney in Los Angeles then brought her to New York when we planned on living together here. Kristy didn’t actually move to NYC until recently, so for a while it was just me and Sydney. I can’t believe I am saying it, but I have really grown attached to her.

How does your cat bring joy into your life ?
Kristy said recently that “This cat loves to be loved,” and it sounds funny, but it is so true. She loves to be around people who love her and how can you not love something that wants nothing more than that ! Well, that and a clean litter box.

What are her most loveable characteristics ?
She does many funny things. She’ll find her place on the bed and just plop down and won’t move for anything. She owns the bed. She loves plants and will do just about anything to get near them and run her face through them. She also follows us around like a dog would and will come to us when we call her name. I am also amazed at how an animal as lazy as a cat has such unbelievable athleticism. She’ll wake up from a four hour nap and hop right up on a five foot counter top.

If Sydney could speak, what would be her favorite saying ?
“Pet me you big doofus.”

Can you offer any advice about having a cat ?
Be prepared to take care of a child, because that’s what it’s like.

Any "wildlife" stories you remember from your childhood ?
There were so many (animal) stories.…. we used to find gigantic turtles just sitting in the backyard !

Who were the first animals in your life ?
Spanky, a black and white Cocker Spaniel and Flip, a Boxer.

Who are your current animal companions ?
Rocky, 15, a black Cairn Terrier (like Toto in The Wizard of Oz). He is an 18 pound terror ! He has diabetes, lost an eye, has a heart problem, and the vet techs call him Cujo. He hates blood tests. After being pricked two times, he says no more. He doesn’t know that he is old or sick.
Shooter is almost 12. She was rescued as a puppy. She is a Shepherd, Lab, Akita, Chow mix. She looks like a gold German Shepherd. Sweet as can be.

How did you adopt them ?
Fifteen years ago I had to have him, so we got Rocky. Twelve years ago while filming in Texas, there were seven puppies that were going to be drowned. I went off, had the mother fixed, and got all the puppies adopted. I drove home with Shooter and her sister Ponder. Ponder was adopted by Beau Bridges.

How do they bring joy into your life ?
No matter how good or bad my day is, it only gets better when I open the door to wagging tails and eyes filled with unconditional love.

What are their most loveable characteristics ?
Shooter, my Texas girl, has a stuffed Armadillo that we call her baby. I have patched the sides numerous times. She sleeps with it, plays with it, guards it, and shares it with guests …“throw it for me, throw it for me….” Rocky has slowed down, but he is very smart and did a lot of tricks. A favorite is me pointing my finger like a gun and saying “bang,” and he’d fall over and play dead !

If your animals could speak, what would be their favorite saying ?
Rocky: “Hey, I’m cute. Give me a cookie.”
Shooter: “Let’s play”

Do you have any advice you can share ?

1. Patience and being consistence when training.
2. Never hit your animal
3. Spay or neuter
4. Remember when adopting, it is a responsibility and be sure you are prepared for the long run (10 to 15 years)
5. Spay or neuter
6. Be careful overfeeding. Our dogs eat better than us !
7. Spay or neuter.

Do you get any wildlife hanging out near your home ?
We have a opossum living in a tree in our yard. He doesn’t bother anyone. We also have a family of raccoons living and moving in our neighborhood where there are lots of fruit trees.

You are very involved with all kinds of animal rescue. Please tell us about it:
I help out German Shepherd Rescue in Burbank, CA with fundraisers and financially. Also, I am involved with The Dolphin Research Center in Marathon Key, FL, and The Bill Foundation (dog rescue) in Los Angeles, CA.
I encourage people who cannot have pets to do volunteer work at their local shelters. It is a great way to meet people, get exercise and receive a large dose of unconditional love.

Who were the first animals in your life ?
A Siamese cat called Smokey, and a Cocker Spaniel called Hamlet.

Who are your current animal companions ?
Tiger, a 15 year old silver tabby. And, we also have two new kittens: Dolly, a silver tabby crossed with a Maine Coon (!!), and Zola, a blue Persian. Both are gray so Tiger thinks they are part of his family !

Where did you get your new kittens ?
They are both from a shelter here (southern California).

How do your cats bring joy into your life ?
We love cats – but all animals give you unconditional love.

If your cats could speak, what would be their favorite saying ?
“Come on – let’s play !”

Any animal advice you want to share with us ?
My mother always told me to put butter on a cat or kitten’s paws when they come to a new home. They lick it off and they know that they will be fed and nurtured in this new home.

What kinds of wildlife stories can you tell us ?
We used to live on a ranch in Santa Barbara, and its amazing when you have a little land so many people call you up with lost or wounded or unwanted animals! “But you’ve got all this room,” they’d say. We arrived with two dogs – a year later we had 4 dogs, 3 cats, 2 horses, a donkey, 2 goats, 6 chickens, 15 rabbits, 1 white rat and a lovebird ! It was fun !!

Who were the first animals in your life ?
"Bozo" a part spitz mutt whose family was lost in a fire. He was given to me by a NYC policeman who lived down the block in Queens around 1944.

Who are your current animal companions ?
Ebbits: 13 year old Bearnese Mountain Dog
Maizy: 6 year old Golden Retriever
Cutter: 10 month old Golden Retriever
Dude: Gray Quarter Horse
Quincy: Bay Quarter Horse
Barn cats: Sweet Pea, Louise, McChesny, Ballintine

How did you adopt them ?!
All three dogs are from farms in Dutchess County, NY. Dude was purchased by my wife Leslie at an auction in Wyoming. Quincy came from a farm in Connecticut. Our cats just showed up at various times and stayed.

How do they bring joy into your life ?
I think our dogs sense our moods and respond to them. If I am having a bad day, they rally round me and really lift my spirits. The horses on the other hand, see me coming towards them and they jump in their stalls ! The cats, well, they run the barn !

What are their most loveable characteristics ?
Animals reflect their owners, so ours are a little nuts, but for the most part well behaved !

If they could speak what would they say ?
Feed us !

Any firsthand advice you can offer ?
It is said: Dogs look up to you; cats look down on you; but pigs look you right in the eye. Sadly, we don't have any pigs.

Any wildlife stories you can tell us about ?
Bats find a folded umbrella a great place to hide in the summer so that when you open them, out they tumble. Surprise !!!!

Actress Rebecca Budig, "Greenlee" on All My Children

Who were the first animals in your life?

Growing up we always had dogs. We also had gerbils, rabbits, and birds as well. One of my early memories is of dressing up our dogs as dolls. I loved them, but they really hated that!

Do you have any animals now?

In 1994 a friend of mine was moving and needed to find a home for his dog Boomer - - a mutt mixed German Shepherd and Pit Bull. I loved Boomer and decided to adopt him myself. I was living in Los Angeles at the time and Boomer and I spent a lot of time outdoors and Boomer loved the beach. When I moved to New York into a small apartment I felt bad for Boomer because of his love for the outdoors. And then with my work schedule I felt I couldn't give him as much attention as he needed to be happy. So I took him home to my parents house in Kentucky and he is so happy there. He lives with my mom and dad and our Border Collie, Toby.
In Kentucky at my parents' house, we also had a cat, Kiki, who we recently had to put to sleep. We called her "killer" and "snaggletooth" because she only had three teeth but still was able to catch rodents and other things outdoors. Boomer always ate Kiki's cat food poor Kiki!

What are Boomer and Toby's most loveable traits?

Boomer is just such a great, funny dog. He lives by his own rules and has a really big personality. He loves attention, and is very playful. Toby loves to snuggle he just loves to be loved.

What kinds of funny things does Boomer do?

Boomer was apparently sneaking up into my bedroom at my parents house each night and going to sleep in my bed when I am at my home in New York. He would do this after my parents went to sleep and go back downstairs just before they woke up… He knew he wasn't allowed to go upstairs to the bedrooms and was smart enough to keep his little secret. They only found out about it because they realized that my bed was in disarray and the blankets were all moved around. Then they put it all together and caught him in the act!

Any advice you can give to other animal lovers?

If you adopt an animal and give it love they will be happy. But if you can, try to choose a dog that suits your lifestyle. If I was to adopt another dog now, I'd choose a smaller one than Boomer since I now live in an apartment instead of a house.

Animals are a lot of responsibility but if you give them lots of love they will be happy.

I understand you've taken in a lot of abandoned animals.

I rescued a dog in Central Park (NYC) in 1998 while I was training to run for the marathon. I arrived in the park to do a 12 mile run at 7:00 in the morning and I saw this dog running, no leash, no people around. She started to go towards the street and towards the traffic. I called her over yelling "puppy, come here, puppy…." She came right over and, clearly exhausted, collapsed at my feet. She had scabs on her neck and looked terrible. I flagged down a policeman who gave me some rope to make a leash. I didn't do my run, and got the dog - a Rot mix - right over to the vet, where we ended up spending the whole day. I couldn't keep her, so I decided to go over to my sister's office with the dog and totally pulled on her heart strings. She named her Jasmine, and they've been together ever since ! They moved from Brooklyn back to Kentucky, and now that she lives on a farm, she has since adopted a Great Dane from the Great Dane Rescue, and a Beagle. She also has a cat that she found abandoned on the street in Brooklyn.

Another time, when I was living in California, I was driving up Laurel Canyon and there was a beautiful Yellow lab, no collar, no leash, running into traffic. I pulled right over, got out and said "come here puppy" - which I seem to say to all dogs ! He ran right over to me and got in my car. He looked like a pure bred lab, about a year old. He was huge ! I put signs up all over the place, on the streets, at the shelters, assuming he was lost and belonged to someone. After a while, and still no calls, I was really thinking about keeping him; but I just couldn't. I was determined to find him a good home, though, that would provide him with lots of space. My best friend ended up finding him a great home with a nice family on Long Island (NY), who named him Buddy.

Who were the first animals in your life ?

My grandmother lived with us when I was a little girl and she had the most adorable little dog named Snooky, a fox terrier who lived to be 19 years old. Even at the end when he was blind, he was a wonderful dog and such a trooper. Even when my brother and I teased the life out of him, he always came back for more . We loved that dog so much. When I was young, I also had a little turtle named Bitsy, a few parakeets and canaries. After Snooky died, my dad got Barron, a German Shepherd with great big paws !

Who is your current animal companion ?

Oscar, our dog, is a Bichon, and we all love him very much. He turned eight in August, and actually looks more like a wind up toy from FAO Schwarz than a dog because he is so perfectly adorable. He is a great addition to our lives.

How did you and Oscar meet ?

We got Oscar through a breeder recommended by a friend of ours who has two Bichons. The breeder bred dogs for show and we let them take Oscar to do shows and he exhibited a lot of promise, but we all missed him too much and wanted him to be our family dog - -home with us - - so we got him back and he's never left us again.

How does he bring joy into your life ?

He brings joy into our lives by just being himself. He has such a warm disposition and wants to be near all of us. He leaps as high as any dog can leap when we walk into the house. He is very playful. He is so sweet and un-demanding and just wants to be around us, which we love. He never complains and is a roll-with-the-punches dog. He makes us laugh and we are such pushovers when it comes to Oscar, especially at the dinner table. He knows he is not supposed to beg for food, but he can't help it and we can't help but respond to it ! We just can't say no to him. He gives us such joy and I love him so much.

What are his most loveable characteristics ?

Oscar is such an important member of our family. We are all so active running in a million different directions, and Oscar is so easy going… he just joins in and comes with us most places we go. When the kids were little and we'd go skiing - - and even now when we go to Vermont or wherever - - he just jumps in the car. If we nap in the car, he too just closes his eyes and wakes up when we get there. He is just such a sweetheart and a great dog and we love him - - and he loves us - - to pieces !

Any firsthand advice you want to offer ?

When you have an un-demanding dog like Oscar, you have to be on the lookout to make sure he is feeling well and that everything is alright. Since he never complains, we really need to be very tuned-in to his regular habits in case something is wrong. We would only know that something is not right if his every day behavior changed, since he just doesn't show it any other way.

Who was the first animal in your life ?

I was given a Yorkshire Terrier when I was eleven years old. I named her Trixie, poor thing !!

Who is your current animal companion ?

I have a beautiful Pharaoh Hound Dog named Jagger.

How did you adopt him ?

He came from San Francisco at about six months old. These are fairly difficult dogs to find and we drove up to meet him as soon as we heard about him. He threw up six times in the car coming home.

How does Jagger bring joy into your life ?

He is a wonderful dog. Alert, friendly and protective. He has always lived in the suburbs with gardens and hills to climb. So the cement jungle of New York has been a bit of a shock.

What are his oddest and most loveable characteristics ?

He unaccountably brings a cushion from the couch to the door whenever we return home. It is ridiculous ! The cushion is enormous and he can barely walk with it. But he feels it is part of his duty to entertain !

If Jagger could speak, what would be his favorite saying ?

Squirrel, treat, breakfast, dinner, walk !

Do you have any firsthand advice you want to pass on to others about training ?

My husband is wonderful at training dogs and he is very gentle and respectful. Jagger responded beautifully to that. I have never found raising my voice to be helpful with animals. Also, never feed them from the table - - it is too late for us, but it is sound advice if you can take it !!

What kinds of wild life experiences have you had ?

In London we had to have a 60 foot tree cut down as it had grown too dangerous for the neighborhood. There was a nest with two baby pigeons and the mother wouldn't come back once the nest had been touched. So I called the bird sanctuary and they told me how to feed them and keep them warm and I took them to a wildlife sanctuary where they raised them and set them free.

Also on a trip to the Galopogos Islands, I was swimming with some sea lions and one of them had a length of old rope from a ship and was playing with it. I grabbed one end and began to play tug of war underwater with a wild sea animal ! It was so funny, he looked very surprised.

Who were your first animal companions ?

When I was very young we had two dogs and a cat. Jenny the black lab, who was extremely tolerant of children and actually had a smile - - a little dopey, but a smile just the same. Penny the cocker spaniel, I remember as being cute and energetic. Twinkle Toes the cat always had our respect. Twink would leave home each summer to hunt and prowl through the forest and along the shore. We would not see her again until September or October when she would return to the house for the winter. She was a great cat born of a special soul.

Tell us about your current animal companion.

Bouncer is a little brown dog about eighteen inches long and six inches high. Selected by my wife Varaporn and named immediately by my son Maxwell.

How does he bring joy into your life ?

Bouncer's small enough to be held in your lap so he's very easy to be close to. He's always happy to see us, bouncing up and down whenever any of us comes home. He almost always sleeps with (my son) Maxwell, and after Max goes to sleep he sneaks under the covers and curls up next to him.
One day we came home with four whopper burgers for our boys. Varaporn left the burgers on the counter. (She stepped away) and when she returned, that little brown dog had jumped up on the chair, and the counter and eaten three of the burgers. When we caught him his stomach was so full he could hardly breathe. We put him on the floor, he walked about three feet, rolled over on his back and looked up at us with "Oh God what have I done ? I can't believe I ate the whole thing !" He's very entertaining.

What odd traits does Bouncer have ?

He loves to get into garbage cans, trash cans . . . anything he can tip over and make a mess of. If you leave him alone for ten minutes he will go to every room and tip all the garbage cans looking for who knows what. Once he thought nobody was looking but my wife was watching him from the comer of the room. He tip-toed his way over to a large trash bag and worked his way inside the bag looking for personal treasures. As she watched, he seemed to be struggling and then she saw him back out of the bag with a cardboard orange juice box stuck on his head. He could not see where he was going and the box was bigger than he was. He seemed humiliated by the experience as he walked around bumping into things with all of us watching. He looked like a box with legs. Finally he worked his way out of the box, and of course everything was fine.

If Bouncer could talk, what would he say ?

"Whatcha cookin' ? Boy I haven't eaten all day long sure wouldn't mind a bite of what you got….we could share…no hurry…don't let me rush you. ...You go ahead and eat. ...I'll just watch. Now you're getting it... you got it ! Oh boy, oh boy ! Good, good, very good ! Thanks dad. You're a good man. Thank you, thank you, thank you ! Got some more?"

Do you have any personal advice about training ?

There were times when I became very frustrated with Bouncer and out of that frustration punished him more than I should have. In hind sight I was wrong. I think it is important to understand that the animal wants to please you. So be patient, be consistent, be kind and use rewards and affection for a job well done. As with any relationship, frustration and anger do not promote the feeling you want to have with your friend.

Tell us about the famous bat experience you and your sons had !

Once upon a time (our sons) Zack and Max discovered a bat hanging from the ceiling of our screened-in porch. The boys wanted it removed so they could play. Growing up in the time and way that I did, my first reaction was to get the tennis racket. However I could see that Zack and Max were of a different time and idea than I. Therefore, I was going to have to find another way. I told the boys that I wasn't sure of how to proceed with this situation. The boys came up with the idea of catching the bat in a net and letting him go outside. This seemed reasonable to me, so we found a butterfly net and carefully placed it underneath the bat which was now beginning to wake from all the commotion. With a small broom Zack carefully swept him down off the rafter and into the net where I flipped him over and held him in the pocket of the net. I was about to let him go when my son informed me that if I let him go next to the house he would just come home again and be back the very next day. He was probably right. So we got in our jeep and held the net through the window with the bat inside, and drove down the road to an old abandoned barn. At that point we let the bat go and indeed, he seemed very happy to be free. I had treated this bat differently than other bats in the past, and I felt good that I was able to learn something from these two young boys. The boys were happy, the bat was free, I had grown, and it was a very good day.

Actress Esta Terblanche plays Gillian Andrassy on All My Children

Who were the first animals in your life ?

We had this beautiful Pekinese dog named Lucy. I was about two years old and I remember how hard it was for me when she had babies and we had to give them away.

Who are your current animal companions ?

I have a gorgeous Persian cat. He is two and his name is Gizmo. He is the love of my life. I got him in Queens, New York. (I have a "Queens Cat" !)

How does Gizmo bring joy into your life ?

He is truly my little angel. He is so loving and affectionate and very funny. He makes us laugh a lot ! Sometimes at night he'll crawl into bed and snuggle up next to me. My life is so much better with him in it.

What are his most loveable characteristics ?

He loves to play. We have to chase him around like a dog. And he plays hide and seek. He also loves looking into the toilet when you flush it.

If he could speak, what would be his favorite saying?

"More food, please !"

Any advice you want to share about having an animal ?

Discipline your animal, even if it is hard. They have to know the rules. And, give them lots of love.

What has been your experiences with wildlife ?

I grew up on a game farm, so we had tons of wild animals. Many times their mothers would die and then I loved raising them. We had blue monkeys; ostriches; three tamed elands; two tamed wart hogs - - those big pigs in the wild; deer; cows; sheep; ducks; chickens; about eight horses; goats…as you can see, I am a HUGE animal lover !

What were your early childhood animal experiences ?

I have been rescuing critters since I can remember, from turtles hit on the road, to pigeons and seagulls, to rabbits and squirrels and of course any stray that wandered by was immediately a new member of our family. My parents were very understanding and laugh to this day over taking me fishing when I was four and having to turn around and come right back home because I would not use the little bait fish called shiners to fish with and had released them all to freedom in the lake…I'm sure just to be swallowed up by the bigger fish, but I had made my point, I thought. Now my husband, Wayne, has had to take up the understanding level with all the animals that we live with and rescue.

Who are your current animal family members ?

In our family now are two dogs, two cats, one rooster and nine chickens, and one California Quail, who lives in our kitchen… I can't even go into our horses and cows ! All of our animals are rescues except for our cow herding dog, Angus, who we got from a neighbor at the Ranch to help with our cattle work. Rose, is our Rottweiler we rescued when someone dumped her pregnant and malnourished by the side of the road two Easters ago. Our seventeen year old cat, Bob, came to us when his stray mother brought her litter of six kittens to us from the woods and then left. She must have known we would look after them. We found homes for all of them. Our other cat, River, someone dumped as a kitten in the river at our ranch and we heard him crying on one of our hikes and promptly wrapped him in a shirt and took him home.

You have wonderful animal rescue stories !

Even our chicken adventures started with a rescue of a rooster. I was on my way to work (at General Hospital) and spotted a rooster walking along the highway so I had to stop and keep him form being hit by a car. I grabbed a towel from our beach bag and ran up and down the highway until I could grab him and wrap him in the towel and take him home and yes, I was late for work. A rooster can't be alone, so I tracked down a few hens for him and I couldn't live without my chickens and fresh eggs now. We also have six pet rats that we got when our neighbor couldn't feed them to her snake….and a Quail living in our kitchen !

How did you come to keep a California Quail in your home ?!

Our female quail, "Q.T." is the latest addition to our family. A neighbor brought her to a birthday party in a little tissue box because their cat had gotten in the nest chasing the mother and broke open the eggs and destroyed the nest. This little one was the only one they could find. Knowing I've rescued birds and squirrel, etc. they asked me to take her. I hesitated only because she was so cold and limp I didn't think there was much I could do. Heating pads and Gatorade and an egg-sugar water mixtures later we had her up and around in 48 hours and pecking away in our kitchen. We let her out with the chickens for the day and back in at night. However a coyote grabbed her and ripped off her tail on Valentines Day morning so she now lives full-time in the house unless the boys are outside to watch her. She is ten months old now and started laying eggs on my sons laps. We are going to keep them and dye them for Easter since we don't have a male Quail to bring them to life. She flies around the house and perches on the boys shoulders while they do their homework and calls to them if she can't see them. At first I thought maybe she thought she was a chicken, now I know she knows she is a human quail. Her tail has grown back, Mother Nature is amazing.

What are your beliefs about wild animals becoming domesticated ?

I always believe animals belong in their natural environments and I try to get them back to their real homes as soon as they are better. It is so tempting to keep the rabbits and squirrels and birds I help, but I get them up and around and then back out there. I have found wonderful Vets who answer my questions, I read books on animal emergencies, and I have friends who are as curious and dedicated to our wildlife as I am to share knowledge and tips with. "Q.T." is so domesticated because we found her so young that she would not be safe back in the wild.

What have animals taught you ?

I can't tell you the joy I feel when I've saved an animal and I get to let them go again. My sons have learned so much about compassion and patience and gentleness from being around all these animals. I wouldn't want to be in a world without animals and my family wouldn't be complete with all the animal friends we have. I am so thankful for all the happiness they have given us.

Actor Don Jeffcoat plays "Joey Buchanan" on One Life to Live.

Who were the first animals in your life from childhood ?

When I lived in Oklahoma, at one point I had 8 dogs, 6 cats, 4 peacocks (Romeo and Juliet with babies!), a couple of rabbits, a few guineas and some fish. Of course we had a BIG back yard.

Who are your current animal companions ?

Cody is a Rhodesian Ridgeback, age five. He weighs 128 pounds and is golden tan.

How did you adopt him or her ?

I found Cody at the North Hollywood shelter when he was only eight months old. I made sure that I was the first person at the dog pound the morning he was put up for adoption. We went to the mountains for a week together that very day. He was in heaven.

How does he bring joy into your life ?

He is my buddy. It is like having a roommate who doesn't talk. He just listens. It's fun having such a large dog…I use him as a bean bag when I watch T.V. and when we're camping, its like having a giant teddy bear. He snuggles up in the tent and keeps me warm.

What is Cody's oddest and most loveable characteristics ?

He chases reflections on the walls - - like watches and shiny magazine covers. He tries to sneak up on the bed early in the morning without being heard, but he is too big. He also catches flies in his mouth…pretty talented !

If Cody could speak, what would be his favorite saying ?

"Play tug-of-war with me, I won't hurt you." and "I'm sorry... I know it smells... I can't help it."

Any advice you want to pass on to others ?

If you have time, train your animal yourself. There are wonderful training books available and it really creates a bond between you and the animal.

Has Cody come face-to-face with any wild animals while you were camping, or elsewhere ?

Cody has been sprayed several times by a skunk. It is the worst. Usually it happens at 3:00 AM ! Once night I had nothing but red vinegar to clean him with. I don't know what was worse, the smell of the vinegar or the skunk. My antidote: 1 quart hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda, 1 tablespoon liquid soap.

Who were the first animals in your life?

We had lots! My older brother raised homing pigeons. My sister had guinea pigs. We had rabbits, fish, dogs and cats. "Dino" was a black lab mix I remember most from my younger years.

Who are your current animal companions?

Bucky is a three-year-old black lab mix. Chew Baccca ("Chewie") is a one and a half-year-old Norwegian Elk Hound. Climber is our four-year-old black and white mix cat. Bambi is a four-year-old grey mix cat.

How did you meet them and come to adopt them?

Bucky we got from Broadway! During the last "Annie" revival they would bring one dog a week out for possible adoption. We saw him on stage and fell in love (well, my wife did). Climber and Bambi we got from a vet who works for "Forgotten Felines." Chewie was bought in a pet shop. I know, I KNOW we were not supposed to do that, but it was Christmas… and the kids….

How do they bring joy into your life?

They all bring joy into our lives. There are moments when we all drive each other crazy, but for the most part there is lots of love to go around!

What are their most loveable characteristics?

The dogs, of course, chase the cats. But when things settle down they all love to be petted and scratched.

If your animals could speak, what would be their favorite saying?

Chewie: "Food, food, food, food, food, food.."
Bucky: "Get Chewie off of me !"
Bambi and Climber: "Pet me. No, Don't. Pet me No, Don't.."

Firsthand advice you want to share with others?

Just be sure that you and your kids are really ready. Especially with dogs. They require much more than cats - - space, walking, feeding, playtime. If you're not sure, wait… or get a cat and see how that goes. Remember, you are not talking a few days, or a month…. You are talking years.

Any "wildlife" stories or memories you want to share?

We have lots of deer around our house, and the dogs get "Skunked" about twice a year. I do have a great memory of standing about 10 feet from a moose when I was a teen in Yellowstone national park - - BEAUTIFUL animal.

Emmy Award-winning actor, DAVID CANARY ("Adam and Stuart Chandler" on All My Children).

Who were the first animals in your life?

Spooky was our dog on 8th Street in Ohio, and I was about seven when we got her. She was a shaggy mix of several sorts of spaniels. She happily mated with the dog next door and gave us a litter of mutt pups. I recall mom wasn't thrilled, but we loved it.

Who are your current animal companions?

We have Sparky, a terrier mix who was adopted from a litter of pups in Florida intended as Benji dogs at Universal Studios. Sparky didn't make 'the cut' and we adopted him. He was too big (for Benji). He's the best, most loving dog on the planet. Our daughter Katy has a Cockateil named Sunny.

How do they bring joy into your life?

Sparky loves me most (it is generally agreed!) because I pet him most. He is a very sweet, loving animal…cute beyond all reason. We call him the 'wonder dog' because he walks around wagging his tail, along with half of his body, and "wondering" what the devil is going on. He is loved and he loves it.

What are their most loveable characteristics?

Sparky sleeps on his back with his tongue sticking out of his mouth just slightly. He also "talks" in the evening after he has been fed. He wags wildly and makes snorts and groaning noises in an effort to get someone to give him a milk bone. Sunny, the bird, bites my finger whenever she can reach it.

If Sparky could speak, what would he say?

Sparky thinks "Mom" means "give me a milk bone." If he could speak with comprehension, he would say "I love you and please scratch my stomach for one hour or till I bleed, whichever is longer."

Firsthand advice you want to share with others?

Teach them to 'sit,' 'stay' and 'come' when called - - especially if they walk off-leash or around traffic. Love 'em a lot - - love your kids more. But, scratching both varieties behind the ear is always a good idea !

Any "wildlife" stories or memories you want to share?