This week marks National Pet Week! This observance was created in 1981 by the American Veterinary Medical Association, and it is dedicated to celebrating the more than 200 million pets in America.
Pets are an important part of our lives: they are our companions, our protectors, our comedians, and even our sources of comfort during hard times. Our pets are always there to love us and to put a smile on our face, so this week is all about celebrating that love. National Pet Week honors the bond between humans and their animal friends, and it encourages pet owners to seek proper veterinary care, nutrition, and exercise for their pets all year long.
We at DC Mosquito Squad love our pets, which is part of the reason why we work so hard to fight pests and keep every member of our family and yours safe from insect-borne diseases.
We’re joining in the fun of National Pet Week by introducing our beloved pets to you! Here are some of the four-legged members of the DC Mosquito Squad family:
Meet Piper:
DCMS Owner Damien Sanchez says, “We brought our dog Piper into our family in June 2014 when she was just a puppy. She is a Cane Corso and a ‘social’ homebody. She loves to be at home, and she hates being outside by herself; she’ll scratch at the door and will not leave the porch. However, she loves playing outside with people. Even though her picture shows her playing with a football, soccer balls are her favorite. More than once she has excitedly run up and grabbed one of my kids’ soccer balls, only to bite down and pop it.”
Meet Mattie:
Eric, our General Manager of Administration, says: “Mattie is our family’s 10-year-old blonde Labrador. She is a gentle soul and my wife, kids, and I all adore her. Mattie loves kids and is well behaved, but completely untrained.”
Meet Monk and Paisley:
Bobby, our Operations Manager, says: “Monk (brown) is 9 years old and Paisley (white) is 5 years old. They have been best friends since day one. To this day, they sleep next to each other, and you will never see one without the other. With two daughters running around the house these days, they all keep each other entertained. Monk and Paisley enjoy going on walks and begging for food. They are best friends and valued members of my family.”
Meet Louie:
Becky, our Sales Admin, says: “Our family adopted Louie from the West Coast Boxer Rescue in June of 2014. Louie is a great dog, and we are so happy to have him in our family. He loves cuddling on the couch with the kids and sneaking into their beds after they fall asleep.”
Meet Elvis James and Molly Rose:
Rhonda, our Sales Admin, says: “The Yorkie is Elvis James and he is 8 1/2 and is only 5 pounds. He is the sweetest thing ever, always ready to cuddle. Molly Rose is a rescue cat and is 1 year old. She has quickly become part of our family, and as you can see they both cuddle up and watch mom work from home all day! They keep me smiling, and our family wouldn’t be complete without them.”
Meet Koda and Cullen:
Lindsey, our Marketing Assistant, says: “Koda is my 7-year-old Rott-Pit mix who I rescued as an abandoned pup. She is my protector but oh so sweet. She has a fierce, deep bark, and is very smart. I hide various toys and things all over (in weird places), and she won’t give up until she finds them, while being careful not to knock anything over during the search. She’s a heavy breather when she sleeps, sometimes snores, but always has a little nose whistle.”
Lindsey additionally says “Cullen is my 3-year-old rescue. He was an abandoned kitten at the vet clinic, from my vet tech-ing days. He picked me! He’s 16 muscular pounds of love and mischief. He has the tiniest meow, especially for his size. He loves laser lights and toys (he’ll make a toy out of anything if he can’t find his own, including Koda’s ears), and loves boxes and spaces that he doesn’t quite fit into. He comes when he’s called (runs) and loves to head-butt. He kills spiders for me, and moths. He knocks things over on purpose all the time and watches me in a most creepy way when I’m sleeping, LOL. He tries to be nonchalant, and if I’m not paying attention, he’ll steal Koda’s (and my two pets’) food. He is quite the love-bug though.”
Meet Lizzy Godzilla:
Laura, our Social Media Manager, says: “Lizzy Godzilla is our lovable pet lizard, named after two lizard icons: Lizzie, Miss Frizzle’s beloved pet from The Magic School Bus, and Godzilla from Godzilla, naturally. This smiley bearded dragon lizard joined our family back in 2012 and enjoyed munching on crickets and getting tan, basking under the warm heat lamps in her cage. My kids are always fascinated when her skin sheds. Lizzy likes to stay active, moving and dancing in her cage and around the house, much to the delight of my children.”
We love our pets, and we love helping others protect their pets from pests!