Meet our animal support staff!
Now fourteen years old, but like old farmers, he does not retire, Casper just slows down. He embraces in word and deed W. C. Fields’ adage “Sleep is life’s most enjoyable experience.” Except when thirst and hunger strike, which occur multiple times a day beginning at 6am, then his B&B becomes a gallery of high intensive activity: leaps to sinks for water, rattled dishes for food, and vocal exercises for attention. He practices sociological awareness by observing the changing neighborhood cat and turkey demographics always maintaining sufficient social distance for requisite objectivity. And when day is done, he huddles next to the fireplace for that “most enjoyable experience.” Casper resides with his father, Professor David Swartz.
Bix is a six-year old voidling who gets what she wants, when she wants. While she pretends to be completely independent, she always knows how to compel love from her human when she needs it, often via cheek rubs and gentle paw taps. Her favorite activities include stalking and hunting the local fauna (cloth mice and wiggly fabric fish) that roam freely in her domain, and closely supervising her human’s typing. One of her major goals in life is to make sure no cord or plant goes unpunished. She is very friendly and sociable until her social meter is filled and her head correctly scritched. Like father like fur baby, Bix loves taking copious naps in the sunlight. Bix lives with her loving dad, PhD candidate, Landon Lauder.
Brisket (Brisket Z. Dog) is about nine years old, and came to us (Professor Deborah Carr) from a beagle rescue that brings abandoned dogs from the south up north. He is a sweet, funny, spoiled boy who loves his stuffed duckie toy, meeting other dogs and children, eating everything in sight, and monitoring neighborhood activities from his sunroom perch.
Roma is a traveler-his picture is for his passport! He moved from Turkey to the US with Bahar. He is the best reading buddy and he enjoys looking outside the window all day long. He loves living with his mom, PhD candidate Bahar Aldanmaz.
Persik is a 12 years old sun conure parrot, and ours is his first and forever home. He spends most of his time in his cage where he has toys, food and water, but he also loves to be out — hanging out on my shoulder, cuddling inside a sweater, or flying to perch on top of chairs, doors or windowsills. He is very affectionate, very curious and enthusiastic, but also very timid and gets easily startled by loud sounds. He sometimes screeches loudly (well, make this “often”), and therefore I cannot have him with me when I have zoom meetings (unless I am just listening with my mic off). He is terrified of wild turkeys and birds of prey and would scream at the top of his lungs to warn us if he sees them through the window. Persik resides with this loving mom, Professor Alya Guseva.
Cornflake and Marshmallow are rescue cats. They had been street cats but became bonded with one another in foster care before we adopted them as kittens. We only intended to adopt one cat originally, but how could we possibly adopt just one when they are so purrfect together? They are friendly and love to play and preen and explore and get in trouble together. And it’s quite possible that Cornflake may be the softest cat in the world. It’s also possible that she’s actually a fox, given her bushy tail (not pictured here). They favor wet cat food more than sociology generally, but will occasionally deign to read some Marx. Both share their home with Professor Joseph Harris.
To have your pet featured, please fill out this form. (Must be affiliated with the sociology department).
Animal Support Staff Form