Animals
My fiancé and I, who co-founded the West Michigan Animal Foundation, feel deeply for the natural world. Between us, if you don't count fish individually, we care for nearly 200 different critters.
This page addresses the specific critters that are in my direct custody. Please visit the WMAF site for more information about the full menagerie.
Horses
Cade and I care for six horses. Two are in my direct care – my heart horse, Tyr, and the divine Miss Macey. Tyr is a mustang gelding from Eagle HMA; he was born in captivity in September 2020. I adopted him in the spring of 2024. He's sweet, sensitive, athletic, and lean. Macey is older; she's a registered quarterhorse who used to do lesson work, shows, and trails. She had been donated by her previous human to a therapeutic riding center, but she didn't adapt well to that environment. So she's now with us, and thriving.
Cade is responsible for the other four: Oliver, a mustang gelding from Divide Basin; Kodiak, a pinto pony rescued from both Amish abuse and multiple kill pens; Valkyrie, a mustang mare from Antelope Valley; and Bolt, a "fancy paint" born at our boarding facility.
From top left: Tyr is a gentleman for treats. Tyr is majestic. Macey and Valkyrie stand in the pasture. Macey and I take a walk. Our three geldings (Tyr, Oliver, and Kodiak) all in a line. Cade and Oliver, Cade and Valkyrie.
That moment when your heart horse realizes you've come to the barn.
Quail
I maintain most of the quail we have. At my house, we keep them in an indoor aviary with lots of space and good temperature control.
Most of our roos are descendants of the OG Quail, a dude named Chicken. All of the males are named after different bird types (Vulture, Duck, Dove, &c.) and all of the hens take antique lady names (Winnifred, Agnes, Dorothy, Henrietta, &c.).
We're a no-cull community. We use and sell the eggs as part of WMAF's "What the Cluck?" program.
Baby quail. Faline, our ambassador bird. And one of our (now deceased) hens on her way to a vet visit. Chicken, the OG quail.
The birds, after we finally moved them to the aviary.
Snakes
I care for four snakes. Two are at the office – Apollo, a grey rat snake, and Athena, a ball python. At the house, I tend to Bella, a ball python who was a bittersweet owner surrender, and Hera, a ball python who was a rescue from a neglectful reptile hoarder.
For six months, I welcomed Arthur the elderly California kingsnake, but he died (presumably of old age) after six months with me.
Clockwise from upper left: Arthur, Bella, baby Athena, Hera, young-adult Athena, and Apollo.
Cats
I have four three cats. #TeamOrange consists of Murphy and Fiona, elderly littermates who've lived with me since 2013. #TeamGrey consists of Theon and Kali; they live at the office. Theon was a stray around the building and Kali was the "back-porch feral" at my old home whom I simply could not abandon.
Murphy and Fiona. Theon. Kali.
Rodents
In addition to the above, I recently adopted three elderly male rats (Spud, Po, and Tater) from a friend who had a change of domicile. Given their age, it's unlikely they'll see 2027, but they are a delight. Rats are surprisingly cuddly and smart.
I also maintain several mischiefs of mice. The mice are breeders; I treat the adults as pets, but most of the babies are humanely euthanized to serve as feeders for some of Cade's smaller snakes. #CircleOfLife
