WTOP Pets

WTOP staff pets Names: Finn (left) and Meisje (right)

Owner: WTOP reporter Kate Ryan

Ryan's father, a TV news reporter, adopted Finn after he reported a story at a local animal shelter with the puppy in his arms. Ryan has followed in her father's footsteps -- adopting one cat named Minky and another one named Meisje in 2011.
George Age: 8 years old

Breed: Shepherd/lab mix

Owner: WTOP anchor Debbie Feinstein

"He's a mama's boy," Feinstein says. "He follows me around the house and cries when he can't see me."
Birdman Age: 10

Owner: WTOP traffic reporter Tim Bracken

Bracken found Birdman and his brother Kikkoman when they were several weeks old.

"They had been dumped on the side of the road near where I lived in northern Virginia at the time," Bracken says. "He refuses to go to sleep at night unless I am hugging him."
Dexter Age: 13 years old

Owner: WTOP reporter Kristi King

Dexter is named after former Washington Redskins defensive end Dexter Manley.
Ruby Age: 12

Owner: WTOP reporter Randi Martin
Oreo, Baxter and Picasso
Breeds: Bearded Collie mix, Golden Retriever and Quaker Parrot

Owner: WTOP Living editor Stephanie Steinberg

"My family rescued Oreo, the Bearded Collie, after a farmer in West Virginia found her stealing chickens because she was trying to feed puppies she had with her," Steinberg says. "Baxter is a typical goofy and loving Golden who is king of his chair. As for Picasso, his squawking can be rather annoying, but he makes up for it with renditions of 'Go Blue!'"
Diesel Age: Six

Owner: WTOP reporter David Burd
Fuzzy Age: 1.5 years old

Breed: Coton de Tulear

Owmer: WTOP traffic Finn Neilsen

"It's safe to say he is more loved in my house than me!," Neilsen says. "He has a great personality. He loves to ride in the car, play catch with anything you or he can find and take over the bed if you give him a chance!"
Teddy 'Roosevelt' Griffiths Age: 4 years old

Owner: WTOP's Tommy Griffiths

Teddy, dressed in his "bad weather slicker," is from the Virginia Beach SPCA.

"He does not walk softly, but he can carry a big stick, ball, chew toy or anything else you can throw," Griffiths says.
Harry Age: 9 years old

Breed: Chow-Shepherd mix

Owner: WTOP traffic reporter Robert Stallworth

"If he wasn't a dog, he would be a ham!" Stallworth says.
Max Age: 7 years old

Owner: WTOP reporter Bob Madigan

Max is a rescue cat and has to check every cabinet!" Madigan says.
Rocko Age: 4 years old

Owner: WTOP marketing director Mary Kay Waugh

"He the worlds most tolerant cat," Waugh says. "He lets my 8-year-old daughter hug, squeeze, hold, carry and generally bother him and has never raised a claw!"
Lucy Age: 9 years old

Breed: Shepherd mix

Owner: WTOP senior technical operator Molly Welton
Lucy likes squeaky toys, long walks around the lake and playing with her friends at the dog park. Her favorite foods include steak, cheese and chew sticks. She is also a very serious Ravens fan, Welton says.

"I found Lucy (really, she found me) about 8 years ago. She was banged up, starving and wandering around an area where there are no homes," Welton says. We believe she was hit by a car and had been on her own for a couple weeks. After a short stint at the shelter, no one claimed her. So I took her home and got her fixed up. Now I have no bed to call my own."
Jack and Charlie Breed: Jack is a black lab mix, Charlie is a Shih Tzu

Owner: WTOP traffic reporter Jim Battagliese

Jack and Charlie are "best friends," Battagliese says.

"Charlie is actually my son's dog, who is living with me until my son gets finished with college, and I rescued Jack 7.5 years ago," Battagliese says.
Maggie and Biscuit Owner: WTOP Program Director Laurie Cantillo

Laurie's rescue dogs, Maggie and Biscuit, in their holiday finery!
Grace Age: 4 years old

Breed: Mutt

Owner: WTOP digital editor Rachel Nania

"Grace is a very spoiled puppy. She likes to sleep in the bed under the covers with her head on my pillow," Nania says. "And yes, I allow it -- sometimes."
Terror Owner: WTOP reporter Michelle Basch

"His name is Terror, but he most certainly is not," Basch says. "My husband and I just call him 'Boy.'"
Kelsey Age: 15 years old

Breed: Coton de Tulear
Owner: WTOP digital editor and reporter Megan Cloherty

Kelsey got back from a walk when she jumped up on the ottoman.

"I guess the jaunt wore her out because instead of readjusting as her rear end slipped off the back, she just did her best to scoot herself back up -- to no avail," Cloherty says. "Sometimes, we think we're smaller than we are!"
Greta Age: 7 years old

Breed: Beagle mix

Owner: WTOP digital editor Amy Hunter

"We know she's part Beagle because of her howl, and her nose and general stubborn nature," Hunter says. "And she's the cutest dog on the planet. I've verified this last fact."
Izzy Age: 6 years old

Breed: miniature English bulldog

Owner: WTOP traffic reporter Reada Kessler

"Izzy is a lot more rambunctious than most Bulldogs," Kessler says. "In fact, when she was a pup, the vet's office nicknamed her Crizzy -- short for Crazy Izzy! But her cuteness stops her from getting into too much trouble!"
Arlo Breed: The vet says he's part lynx, but if you ask me, he's part lab.

Owner: WTOP digital editor Lacey Mason

"Arlo (Guthrie) can get comfortable anywhere. He's flown in planes several times and traveled with me by car to the West Coast, East Coast and everywhere in between. He didn't even mind using the litter box in the car on the side of a New Mexico interstate (it's a long story)," Mason says. "In this picture, I'm trying to work from home, but he has other ideas."
Rambo Age: 6 years old

Breed: Belgian Malinois

Owner: WTOP reporter Jamie Forzato

"He will lick your face if you're not giving him enough attention," Forzato says. "His favorite activity is running through a flock of geese and scaring them way."
Oscar and Willie Nelson
Breeds: Oscar is a tuxedo cat, Willie Nelson is a terrier mix

Owner: WTOP traffic reporter Amy Freedman

Willie Nelson was found in Somerset County, Md. and was named by the county sherriff's office.

"I found him online and fell instantly in love," Freedman says. "Willie is lively and extremely sweet. He's had two eye surgeries, but despite his compromised vision he manages to have a lot of fun and get into all kinds of mischief. Oscar and Willie have a love/hate relationship."
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