At The Drake Center, it’s no surprise our families are a bit…furry. From dogs and cats to horses, chickens and an emu, we’d like you to meet the loves of our lives—our pets. 

Proud pet parent: Lorraine Hollweg, receptionist

  • Shamus, German shepherd mix

  • Madison, Labrador (yellow)

  • Buster Brown, DSH

  • Calvin, DSH

  • Arthur, Warmblood (horse)

  • Truman, emu

If you had to choose, would you say you are a cat person or a dog person? Why?

Both. I love when my cats wake me up in the morning by licking my face and since I love being outside, my dogs are always with me whether I am in the barn, doing yard work or going for a long walk.

How did you get your pets? Why did you choose those particular breeds?

I bought Shamus through FOCAS Rescue and Arthur from a friend. I was looking for a buddy for Shamus when a client came in with Madison and said he was looking for a home for her. I took her home to see if she would fit in with the rest of the family and when the cats (one whom is afraid of everything) didn't budge off the couch, I knew she could stay. The cats and Truman found me.

What is special about your pets?   

Buster Brown just loves Shamus. He is always head-butting him and rubbing up against him. He also cleans his ears! Sometimes I think he thinks he is a dog.

What is the cutest thing about your pets, physically?

Shamus is almost 12 years old and he has such a handsome gray face. Madison looks like she is always smiling and wearing eyeliner and both my cats are just adorable. Arthur has a little scar on his nose that I love and Truman, well, he is just the coolest bird ever!

What do you let your pets get away with that you probably shouldn't? 

The dogs are kept in the garage and backyard during the day and they keep themselves busy by taking things out of the trash, ripping it to shreds and leaving it all over the place. Shamus also likes to take my sneakers to his hole up on the hill, so I am forever looking for my shoes.

What is your favorite memory or story about your pets? 

Finding Truman. He just appeared at my ranch one afternoon after a big rain storm. I put signs up around the neighborhood, but no one claimed him so we decided to keep him. He is very friendly and loves pecking at my shoes while he gets petted.

I almost lost him a few years ago after he was attacked by some dogs. He had so many wounds all over his body; I called Dr. Shotwell to come put him down because he was in such bad shape. When she got my house, she said he looked bad, but we could fix him. We loaded him into my horse trailer and brought him to the hospital. Dr.Shotwell, Dr. Hamlet, Karen Berry (wife of Mike Berry, one of our technicians) and technician Loree Cook worked on him for hours.

The aftercare was the hard part. I could not have done it without Loree's help. We did what I called two-a-days. For three weeks, he was pretty much our life. Before and after work, we flushed, cleaned and dressed his wounds and gave him antibiotics. Truman was a great patient and had an incredible will to live. Because of that, he survived.

We let him out of his pen on the weekends to stretch his legs and to watch him jump in the air, spin around and take off running as fast as he can brought such a smile to my face!

What do your pets bring to the dynamic of your family?

Happiness and love. When I pull in my driveway and Arthur whinnies at me, when I open the garage door and the dogs run out to greet me like they haven't seen me for weeks, even though I may have been gone for an hour or when the cats meow and meow when I get in the house (although I think they just want food!), it makes me feel so lucky to have them in my life. It makes my heart smile. They bring me security and protection when my husband is away and comfort, companionship and so much love all the other days. They are our family and I don't know what I would do without them.