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: Jennifer Reed, media relations specialist

  • Maya, DMH
  • Tigerlilly, DSH

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

I am definitely a cat person. I adore them. I’ve always had cats in my life and I always will.

Unfortunately, I’ve never had the pleasure of owning a dog.

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

Maya was the first pet I ever adopted from a shelter. She was not happy to be there and didn’t make a very compelling case for herself, but my mom urged me to take another look. I’m so glad I did!

Tigerlilly and her littermates were found dumped in a box on the side of a busy road. My boss at the time was good friends with the foster parents, who were looking for adopters. It just so happened that I was looking for a second cat. I brought her home a few days before Christmas and it was the best gift I have ever given myself.

What is special about your pets?

Maya is incredibly tolerant. She lets me pick her up all the time, even if she doesn’t really want to, and puts up with how much I love to smell and kiss her feet. (I’m not sure why, I just do.)

What can I say? Tigerlilly plays fetch. Like a dog. She also figured out how to play with a string by herself by wrapping it around table legs. She pulls one end and chases the other!

What is the cutest thing about your pets, physically?

Maya is beautiful! I love her fluffy tail, her big eyes and the long fur that sticks out between her toes.

Tigerlilly has the cutest little face. She always looks like she’s smiling.

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

Tigerlilly is pretty adamant about clawing the carpet. We try to spray her with water, but she thinks it’s a game. She runs away only to come right back for more.

I have to admit that I’m guilty of letting Maya get away with pretty much anything. I can’t get mad at her and she knows it!

What is your favorite memory or story about your pets?

One of my favorite silly memories of Tigerlilly involved her getting locked out of my bedroom. She started clawing at the carpet like crazy (she hates closed doors), but before I let her in, I asked, “Who is it?” She reached under the door with her little paw and waved it up and down as if to say, “It’s me! The gray one!” I couldn’t help but laugh.

Maya wakes me up every morning for breakfast by sitting on me and licking my face—up my nose, on my lips, across my eyelids, everything! She sticks her wet nose in my ear and purrs really loud. Sometimes, she even taps my face with her paws to get my attention! I tell her she’s naughty, but I secretly love it.

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

Maya and Tigerlilly are my family—and my boyfriend, Jason, has adopted them as his, too, which I absolutely love. They bring us great joy and fill our home with endless laughter and love.

I think I would smile a lot less if not for them—they give me a million reasons to every day!

Most importantly, they have shown me my own capacity to love. They are a constant reminder that though every day may not be good, there is something good in every day. They’ve taught me that even when it seems impossible, you can still smile, you can still experience joy and you can still love with your whole heart. It’s a wonderful lesson I think only animals can teach.