Meet Our Pets

CLS human: Donna Miller

Bean is a Shiba Inu who was born June 9, 2019. He is happy to accept birthday wishes and tributes. His main interests are food and fetch. Note: his human is the one expected to do the fetching. Bean is also able to detect any small mammal or reptile within a 300 mile radius and takes it upon himself to bark it away. Bean has trained his human exceptionally well and has established treat distribution centers at numerous locations in his home. He is banned from campus due to his habits of licking humans without asking leave first and begging food from whomever he encounters.

Bella is a 6-month-old shih-pom who loves to play with anyone and anything. Even though Carlos spends way too much on new toys, Bella loves nothing more than to play with a tennis ball. She knows six commands but pretends she doesn’t unless a treat is involved.

CLS Human: Amanda Pearce

Boone is a three-year-old American Paint horse. Boone is one of three horses on the farm. Boone enjoys helping on the farm rounding up or doctoring the cattle. Boone loves playing with his baby calves. When not working on the farm, Boone enjoys trail riding all over the state of Iowa and around the Midwest. Boone often gets himself into trouble with his curiosity and friendliness mainly with the protective mothers of baby calves. Boone’s favorite pastimes include playing in any and all water, belly scratches, and sneaking Oreos out on the trail.

CLS Human: Amanda Pearce

Cash is an Australian Blue Heeler and Corgi mix. Cash is one of the smallest and youngest animals on his farm, but his big heart and breeding make him invincible. Cash loves to ride on the four wheelers to check on his cows and calves, and he also enjoys moving said cows and calves to different pastures. He is still learning the correct directions, but he tries his best. While not working his cows, Cash enjoys a warm lap or his sister’s Willow’s bed to take naps.

Willow is a four-year-old golden doodle. Willow is a certified therapy dog and was previously employed with the Grinnell High School as their therapy dog until her parent accepted their position with Grinnell College. Willow enjoys and loves everything and everyone except snapping turtles. Willow is still deciding on her next adventure, but in the meantime, she enjoys naps on her little brother Cash’s bed, camping, and getting dirty on the farm.

CLS Human: Mandee Rust

Cece, adopted as a kitten in January 2018, is a little shy at first but warms up quickly and then becomes very committed to getting as many pets as possible. Once she decides she likes you, she will be nearby.

She knows she has a very fluffy tail and makes sure it is getting the attention it deserves, often insisting it be front and center in your personal space. She is also a dedicated biscuit maker and takes the role very seriously.

Cece brings a calmer presence to the household, unless she has decided it is time for attention, in which case she is very clear about it.

CLS Human: Amanda Reimer

Charlie was adopted from Pals to join her household in 2022 as a kitten. Her family had come to adopt her sister and she asserted herself and was so demanding that she got to come home with them as well. She is extremely proud of her fur as being the “softest” anybody’s felt. She has claimed her human as the eldest male of the home and is an extremely big “cuddle bug”. You will often find Charlie draped on the furniture, half on- half off or on top of the cupboards looking down upon you. She loves sleeping in the sun and about the only time she moves quickly is if the food bowl is getting filled.

Hi! I’m Connor – a terrier mix rescue that is probably 4 years old.  I love jumping and running away to stress out my mom – it’s so much fun, don’t know why she doesn’t like it!  Will bark anytime for treats and belly rubs.

CLS Human: Julie Lascol

Docka holds a PhD in Francophone Literature. She is 14 years old and has spent her life between France and the US. Docka has saved two lives from a fire and received the honorary title of firefighter cat by Dakar’s firefighters in 2017.

CLS Human: Sasha Grigorovich

Fig & Penny, aka Pig and Fenny,  are Grinnell residents that spend a majority of their time working on their synchronized sleeping.

CLS Human: Mark Peltz

Izzy is a 6-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog. She lives for belly rubs, naps, treats, naps, belly rubs, naps, and treats. She loves to roll in the grass, make friends with her older brother, Oliver, a gray American short-hair cat (their friendship is a “work in progress”), and stand watch over the backyard. Her human family is her world, and if she wasn’t the size of a small horse and didn’t bark so loudly, she would make more trips to campus. Thus, she works remotely most of the time.

CLS Human: Amanda Reimer

Juniper was born in 2016 making her 8 years old. She is the only dog in the household of 5 cats that bully her around. She believes she is a 60-pound lap dog and doesn’t know what it means not to be happy. Her tail, which is identified as a weapon, is constantly wagging and she wants to greet everybody that comes through the door, even if you’ve come in and out of it all day.  She loves long walks or runs and never seems to wear out, an endless ball of energy. She believes she is the guard dog of the house but runs away at the sight of a box of any size.

CLS Human: Mandee Rust

Lenny is extremely social and, since being adopted as a kitten in July 2017, has fully believed every person exists to pet him. He is always in the middle of whatever is happening and greets everyone like they showed up just to see him.

He has a bit of an ornery streak and is very good at opening cabinets, whether they should be opened or not. When it’s time to nap, he uses his head to push his way under blankets until he’s completely covered, usually leaving behind a suspicious lump that occasionally shifts.

Lenny brings a lot of personality (and a little chaos) to the household and is not interested in missing anything.

CLS Human: Laura Poole

Leo was born on November 8, 20015 and is a fancy mutt. His father is a poodle and mother is 1/2 golden retriever–1/2 wheaten terrier. A one of a kind character, Leo loves to play tug-of-war, take walks at Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve & roll in snow. If you need to train your children to keep their rooms picked up, he’s your guy! He especially loves to destroy stuffed animals and steal dirty socks.

CLS Human: Amanda Reimer

Lily is a 7-year-old tabby that is finally the “adult” of the house. Small, but mighty, she attempts to run the household, but her size doesn’t do her any favors. She was adopted by the youngest boy in her home and has deemed his room, hers. She enjoys sleeping in the window so she can watch over everything and spends her evenings defending her territory from the four other felines and one dog in the home. While she looks angry or mean, she just loves attention.

CLS human: Sarah Barks

Lou—older sister of Neko—is a German shepherd mix rescued from PALS in 2023. Lou loves everyone she meets, whether dog or human, and is always down for a play date. Her favorite activities include making a mockery of so-called “tough” chew toys and putting her humans’ shoes in creative locations around the house. She would very much prefer it if the whole pack would stay in one place with her, please.

CLS human: Vicki Nolton

Luna is a black Lab and Boxer mix who was adopted as a pup from PALS in 2018. Her favorite activities are using her sweet brown eyes to mooch for food, taking sunlit naps, going for neighborhood smell field trips, and strategically situating herself for endless tummy scratches. She is simultaneously the self-appointed household guard and enthusiastic visitor welcoming committee (after her vetting process!) and is THE BEST wintertime cuddle buddy who melts into her humans like butter on a waffle.

CLS Human: Susan Sanning

Maeve is the resident CLS therapy dog in training.  She is a one-year-old standard poodle who is in the CLS most every day. She very much feels it is her responsibility to welcome each and every visitor to Susan’s office with an enthusiastic bounce and wiggle. When Susan is not in her office, you might just find Maeve sitting on the sofa looking out the office window—note the nose prints on the window the next time you visit. Maeve loves children, a good game of fetch, her plush hedgehog, treats, and any tissue accidentally left within her eyesight.

CLS Human: Susan Sanning

Mini Cooper is a miniature horse who is built more like his namesake vehicle than a miniature horse and is likely 10–15 years old. “Cooper,” as he’s known to those who love and adore him, is a REALLY chill dude who tends to pass the chill on to whomever he’s around. He often doesn’t really know he’s horse and is just at home on campus and at nursing homes as he is in the pasture with his equine buddies. He loves butt scratches—especially in those hard to reach quarters, carrots, and his four-legged canine and feline friends. Watch for his guest appearances at CLS outdoor events!

CLS human: Sarah Barks

Neko—younger brother of Lou—is a German shepherd mix rescued from PALS in 2024. Neko is very sweet, very floofy, and very nervous. He loves all toys, particularly the squeaky ones, and enjoys wrestling matches and howling duets with his sister. Neko would like to be your friend.

CLS human: Dani Perkins

Norman & Cash Money Perkins (Purrkins) are currently taking their daily 17 hour nap; please do not disturb. When awake, Norman is pursuing a career in fisheries and wildlife (chasing a fishing pole toy and going ekekekekek at birds out the window) while Cash Money trains for the Olympic swim & drive team (rolling around in sinks and bathtubs to get soggy).  Both are born & raised in Grinnell, Iowa having graduated from the local PALS shelter as kittens. Philosophically, Norman does not believe in interacting with humans who are not part of his household staff, and so will remain elusive and mysterious. Cash Money happily accepts pets and treats, but eventually will bite you. He views this as a teachable moment, and it is for your own good.

CLS Human: Julie Lascol

Pléiade is 3 years old. He was adopted at PALS in 2019. Pléiade knows he is beautiful and very much uses it every day. He is very sweet with humans but terrorizes his sister Docka by chasing her around the house.

CLS Human: Amanda R

Rainy was adopted Dec of 2025 to a household of 5 cats and 1 dog. She quickly had to find her place and her big attitude let her do so quickly. She is a fluffy furball of energy and is often found terrorizing every other cat into playing and wrestling.

She is fearless, often taking on the dog and even her humans. The zoomies are no stranger to this one though she is extremely affectionate so will slow down to get her pettings… and they are sometimes forced pettings.

Other names she has managed to pick up are “Lil Monster”, and “Floofy Pants” as she struts that fluffy tail around proudly.

She is currently training to be a Renaissance Faire Kitten and get many followers/subjects

CLS Human: Amanda Reimer

Ruby was adopted with her sister Charlie from Pals in 2022 as a kitten. Ruby was spotted first, and her unique Tortoise shell coloring caught the attention of her family. While they would have loved to name her “Hoots” she was already responding to the Pals name for her, so she kept it. Wide-eyed and full of energy, Ruby never stops. She is very vocal about everything, no matter what time of the day or night it is. She is a very accomplished hunter and often brings her prey to show off. She loves to be petted and ear scratches but very rarely stays still enough to get full on cuddles. You’ll often find her in one of many windows watching the outside world with big yellow eyes.

CLS Human:  Kelly Harris

Russa is a 3-year-old rescue adopted by the Harris family in the spring of 2021.  Russa has lots of energy, and her “zoomies” are quite impressive…..just get out of her way!  However, she also loves to snuggle and has the biggest smiles when her large extended family, especially the “littles,” come to visit.  Russa takes her responsibility of guarding the yard very seriously and spends lots of time chasing the rabbits, squirrels, and other critters away.  She loves squeaky toys, and one of her favorite games is tug-of-war.  When Russa is ready to play, she will politely bring one of her toys to you.  I will guarantee you will not be able to resist those beautiful eyes!

CLS human: Mary Jane Shroyer

Samson is a Great Dane mix but don’t let his size fool you. He’s convinced he’s a lap dog and is scared of almost everything. He loves walks, hates being wet or cold, and takes squirrel surveillance very seriously.

CLS Human: Ann Landstrom

Tessa is affectionately known as the Landstrom’s “pocket kitty!” Found alone at 5 weeks old, our sweet tiny tortie would fit into our pockets and still fits into sweatshirt front pockets due to her petite build. Tessa’s favorite activity is napping in a cozy blanket, yet recently is finding her youth again playing ‘hide in the tunnel’ with her niece Winnie. Tessa was born in 2014 in the Decorah, Iowa area.

CLS Human: Amanda R

Theo, a 4-year-old Orphan, joined his family at one week old in the year of 2020. He was bottle-fed every 4 hours for multiple weeks and almost didn’t make it. What once was small, turned into the largest in the household and the “King”. Being the only male, he struts his stuff daily. He knows nothing about personal space and is in your face from sun-up to sun-down. In his spare time, he can be found sleeping, begging for belly rubs, chasing the other felines in the home and even the dog, and demanding all your attention.

CLS Human: Mark Peltz

Willow is a medium-hair, cinnamon brown tabby.  While a bit shy at first, she quickly lets her sweet and loving personality shine through.  A genuine fluff ball, Willow loves belly rubs, to be brushed, and cuddling with her human family.  If you’re down to read a book, take a nap, or just chillout for a bit, she’s your partner.

CLS Human Nana: Ann Landstrom

Winnie is a tortie Maine Coon mix and that regal elegance and raccoon features show in her long-feathered tail, long-fur coat, long-muscular legs, long-full body … yes, she is long! In 2023, she was found seriously injured at only seven weeks old alongside a road near Decorah, Iowa. My daughter volunteering at the shelter fell in love instantly and helped nurse her back to health and adopted her. She is a wonderful ‘grandkitty’ addition to our home and she even plays fetch!

CLS Human: Amanda Reimer

Tifa, the sister to Theo, is also a 4-year-old Orphan and joined the family in 2020. She was much larger than her brother at the time but since has become our teeny. While her body grew recently, her face has much stayed the same sweet little kitten face with the cutest big ears. She cuddles on her terms only and is always on the go, so getting to pick up and hold her is never in the books. Due to her size, she does assert herself over the others so can be a bully sometimes. She enjoys chin rubs, ear scratches and her snacks.