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: Dr. Kathy Boehme, veterinarian

  • Tikaani, malamute mix
  • Otis, German shepard/pit bull mix
  • Mr. Whiskers, DSH
  • Bob, gecko
  • Several unnamed frogs and fish

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

I am an animal person and make no distinction between species as far as my preferences go. I feel like my relationship with animals goes way deeper than that, than species. They are my teachers. I am honored and humbled to have the privilege of helping them.

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

Years ago, a client found Tikaani in a canyon. He was there for three days with a chewed off rope around his neck and a BB pellet in his side. When I saw him, it was truly love at first sight. The client was gracious enough to let me keep him.

My husband went to PetSmart one day to get crickets for Bob and when he arrived, a German Shepherd rescue group was having an adoption fair out front. My son fell in love with one of the puppies, so my husband called me at work and asked if we could adopt him. After loud protest from me, he said, “But Kathy, he looks just like Josh.” Josh was our first dog together that had passed away years earlier. I started to cry and said, “Yes, of course!”

A client found Mr. Whiskers in her garage when he was tiny and sick. They brought him to The Drake Center to see what could be done. Peggy, one of our longtime Registered Veterinary Technicians, asked if I thought he would fit into my home. I had lost my big, beautiful orange and white kitty, Thor, a few months earlier. There sat a cute, goopy, orange Mr. Whiskers. He fit in perfectly.

My son had Radical Reptiles visit his school. A couple months later, he asked for a gecko for his birthday. I called the owner of Radical Reptiles and he had a gecko that had been handled and was used to children that he was trying to find a home for. We adopted Bob and now, 10 years later, he is still going strong.

What is special about your pets?   

My pets fill a role that is different for each individual in the family. I feel so much joy when I see Otis outside, lying on his back in the sun, twisting and turning and rolling from side to side with a big smile on his face. He is just plain having fun and no matter where my head is at or what I have going on, I just have to stop and giggle. I think people might be happier if they took the time to smile and roll around in the fresh spring grass under the warm sun.

Tikaani is just my heart. Our hearts beat at the same pace. He just knows me. Not intellectually of course, but he just knows me. Enough said.

Mr. Whiskers gives me Reiki every morning when I meditate.

Bob is just Bob. He never changes. He’s stable and that’s huge.

What is the cutest thing about your pets, physically?

Tikaani’s big paw as it slaps down on my arm when he wants attention.

Otis’ lower jaw juts out above his top one and it pushes his lip out slightly. It’s adorable.

Mr. Whiskers stares into my eyes and then slowly closes his eyes. It is so calming. He’s a very zen cat.

Bob has cute toes.

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

The animals all sleep in bed with us, except Bob. Luckily, my amazing husband is just as “animal crazy” as me, so it works. One of my sons has Otis, one has Mr. Whiskers and my husband and I have Tikaani.

What is your favorite memory or story about your pets? 

One of my favorite things to watch is Otis and Mr. Whiskers fighting with each other. They both love it. Mr. Whiskers is always the instigator and grabs Otis around the neck and bites in. Otis snaps back and the two go back and forth. It’s hilarious. They play every day.

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

You know, I could literally write a book about this topic. It is impossible to convey in a short answer. I believe that our pets play a huge role in our mental and physical well-being. They are companions, confidants, stress reducers, teachers. They bring us out of our personal dramas and into the present with their goofy fun and their affection and sometimes with their loud, obnoxious voices. Simply put, I cannot begin to imagine my home without them.