Susan Nicol

German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche once said, “Man is the cruelest animal.” As to whether this statement is true is often up for debate. But what cannot be denied is that human cruelty exists and that the abuse of animals under the guise of justifiable exploitation for profit is just one of the more common manifestations […]

Often considered a nuisance and a pest, Groundhogs, woodchucks, or marmots as they are called are found predominately throughout Northern America, where they have gained notoriety for predicting when winter will end. In fact, these little critters have even had a day named after them. But contrary to popular belief that groundhogs are cuddly little […]

With often brightly colored, sleek bodies and a similar looking appearance to that of a snake, although technically a lizard, this is the skink. Found in backyards and the wild throughout most parts of the world, skinks are a great addition to any environment with their lightning-fast reflexes to help keep insect populations in check. […]

With their long bodies, unnerving stare, and reputation for striking and biting, snakes have long been seen as harbingers of death with their deadly venom. Yet interestingly enough, very few snake species are aggressive, and as such most will go out of their way to avoid humans. In fact, only one in five of the […]

Bold, bright, and with a bill to match, this is the toucan. Well known in the Western world for its large multicolored bill four times the size of its head and curious eyes, this species of bird has lent its image to many TV shows, films, and advertisements. Playful and intelligent, the toucan can give […]

These colorful birds, whose natural habit is the rainforests and open grasslands of Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, are now found in many parts of the world where they are kept as domestic pets. Curious birds by nature, they are playful with active personalities to match their size. But this is no […]

Colorful with a noisy personality to match, this is the cockatoo! Now I have owned an African Grey parrot, aptly named Kasuku, which is Swahili for, you guessed it, parrot. Having taken him in as a rescue as an adult, at times, it was very much hit and miss, but over time and with a […]

Affectionate and friendly, this is the Alpine Dachsbracke, the hound dog with a keen hunting instinct and a larger-than-life personality to boot. Comfortable both out in the field hunting prey or slothing at home, this wiry and robust dog makes an excellent addition to the family home and is great with children. The intelligent and […]

Friendly and affectionate with their bristling bushy beards, eyebrows, and great personalities to boot, this is the Parti Schnauzer. Now I was fortunate to grow up with my parent’s Standard Schnauzer, Bruno, who became a loyal playmate for my sister and me. Patient, yes, we used to dress him up, and even-tempered, he surpassed all […]

Often mistaken for a poodle, the Irish Water Spaniel is one of the oldest and rarer breeds of spaniel today. With their distinctive top-knot and strikingly liver-colored coat, this breed is undoubtedly no poodle, although thanks in part to their origins shrouded in folklore and mystery, there may be a poodle ancestor lurking in the […]