Dear PAWS,

Scout (fomerly Vogue) and Jem, (formerly Benny Bumpkin) are having a ball. Their names are from their mom the- English- teacher’s- favorite book, To Kill a Mockingbird.

At first, Jem developed a bad cold and was on antibiotics; that lasted 3-4 weeks and he has been on eye drops the past month to clear up some problems the doctor thinks are residual from his initial illness. He has been a trooper going back and forth to his new friend, Dr. Adams! Scout has managed to keep herself well despite loving to sleep right on top of her new brother. You would never know they were not from the same litter and I love their individual personalities. Jem is quieter and loves to sleep across my neck while Scout prefers to curl up at my feet after her usual lively conversation.

They carry their mice from room to room and there is nothing better than the bathroom faucet. They love to drink and play in the sink; their paw prints always give them away! In the morning I usually have company walking in between the shower curtains to get a good look at the water droplets. They take their cat naps together and Scout even suckles on Jem to fall back asleep if she is awakened early.

We are our own family now and can’t imagine it any other way.

Cathy Wrenn