Whether they have paws, claws, fur or scales, it is safe to say people love their pets just the way they are. Feb 20 is National Love Your Pet Day, a day set aside to remember our furry friends and appreciate all they do.

Science teacher Korrin Schriver has a lot of pets to appreciate on pet day. Schriver has two dogs (Czar and DaVinci), a ferret (Nevaeh), eight chickens and two ducks!

She remembers when she got her pets.“We rescued Czar from a shelter in Illinois,” she said. “He was the first pet my husband and I got together, and he is very sweet but scared of everything.  DaVinci is a daddy’s boy and is very playful, which can be dangerous since he is a 120 lb. Great Dane. He loves to get the mail and carry it up to the table or to my husband and is always so proud of himself when he does that.

“Nevaeh was a classroom pet when I taught in Milwaukee and is a great climber. She climbs up almost anywhere, and it can be difficult to keep track of her at home,” said Schriver.

Dog lover Emma Wachter, ‘18, remembers when she got her dog Macy. “My dad made my sister and I make presentations on why we thought we should get another dog,” she said. “We did. Then he said he had a presentation for us, too. He showed us the website of people that breed golden retrievers. He then showed us a picture of a puppy and surprised us by saying we were getting her next week. On the last day of school, we drove up to the farm to meet her and take her home.”

Though there are many things Wachter loves about her dog, she says her favorite thing is, “that she always brings me socks to greet me or cheer me up. I also like when she sleeps with me.”

When it comes to animals, it’s all about the little things, they love to be cared for. If you have a pet, try to pamper them a little more than usual on Pet Day. Take them for a long walk, give them more time out of their cage or give them a special treat. Pets help make humans happier; the least we can do is return the favor.