Meet Ash

Hmmm...I wonder if I should create a profile of each animal?

Well... let's start with Ash. Ash joined the HooZoo in January 2009. Her name is Ash because she looks like a cigarette ash... gray with a flaming red tail. She is a Congo African Grey parrot and loves head scratches, peanuts and fuji apples. She is an acrobatic master... and can hang on one toe, her beak and even the "iron cross."

African Greys usually begin to talk around 1 year old... but our wonderful little birdbrain is at the head of her class. Her first words were uttered at the young age of 8 months.
She has mastered: Ash, Mister Jason, Artie, *microwave beep*
She is currently working on: Nose Kiss, *evil laugh*

One of these days... she'll say "Mama." Although I'm happy for Jason... I'm also sad she hasn't learned my name.

Spying on the kids

Jason bought me a webcam to spy on the kiddies while I'm at work. I love this thing. I feel so devious spying on them.

Artie sleeps all day. I mean... ALL DAY. If I crank up the volume, I can actually hear him snore!

Ash... our African grey is a little more active. Here she is at the bottom of her cage, munching on a broccoli.

And of course... the hammies. I love this picture of one of the girls peeking out of her blue house. They run so fast on their wheel that all I see are little gray and brown blurs.

This is Boo...

Welcome to her class. This is what she has to say...

Steve Vs. Sonic the Hedgehog

Steve is my African pygmy hedgehog. He also holds the title as the first HooZoo resident.
















The number one question I get asked relates to Steve's more famous counterpart, Sonic. "Can he roll into a ball and spin like Sonic?" The answer is no. He also isn't blue, nor does he spend his days fighting Dr. Robotnik.

Steve is a little over one pound, walks on all four legs and is black and white (known as salt and pepper). He can curl into a ball, but cannot shoot out spikes (quills) or roll around. He rolls into a ball when he's mad or scared. He has two sets of quills, baby and adult. He is very prickly... especially when he's flexing... but when he's relaxed, his quills move back and he feels like a coarse hairbrush. He's an insectivore... which is closer to the mole family rather than the rodent family. He eats hedgehog food, cat kibble and gets mealworms and baby hot dogs for treats.

Steve is the resident grumpy old man. He usually wakes up around 10pm and gets very upset when you wake him up. However, he can bribed with mealworms.

Steve in a ball
















Steve as a BOWLING Ball

Sorry pug... you didn't get your big break

I was walking Artie this morning... when I walked by an old gas station. Students from a nearby college were filming for a class project. They said it was a "dark romantic comedy" ... whatever that means.

Anyways, they stopped me and wanted Artie to be in the scene. Apparently, one of the girls was going to use her maltese... but the maltese didn't show up as good on film as they would like. They loved Artie and said he would be perfect.

They asked if he understood commands...
Sit? Check
Shake? Check
Roll Over? Uhhh... problem.

I have been unsuccessful at teaching Artie to roll-over. I've given up. They said it was crucial that he roll over. Pbbbt... oh well... we didn't want to be in their stupid movie anyways right Artie?


Don't give me those eyes. I'm sorry sweetie... today was just not your day for fame and fortune.



However... this has inspired me to start training him again. More to come!

New Hammies

Yogi and Super Dave are the proud parents of 9 wonderful babies. Final score... 5 girls and 4 boys. 2 boys and 2 girls went to great homes. However... I haven't been able to find homes for the remaining 5. That only means one thing... I get to keep them all!

Yay! I've named the 2 boys... Wally and Ozzy. Not permanent... still toying with the names. As for the girls... no names yet. I just know I'm gonna name the last one "Thirteen."