Meet Our Pets

CLS Human: Katie Kriegel

Auggie is a five-year old coonhound mix, rescued in 2019, who loves to sniff everything imaginable! He lives for going on walks and usually can’t start his day without one. Auggie loves belly rubs, treats, howling at sirens, and climbing on laps (even though he’s 100 pounds!). If he’s not patrolling the yard, you can find him playing with his toys or chasing his tail. Auggie is an excellent officemate and prefers being in the presence of others, but often gets the zoomies when he’s excited.

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: 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: 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.

Human Family: Robin Bourjaily

Starling and Leo are ten- and fourteen-year-old housecats who throw frequent cuddle parties and kibble feasts. Starling (muted calico) was reportedly found in a dumpster when she was three-months old. Her imperiled beginning behind her, she lives comfortably now, “shopping” for toys in her toy basket and leaving them for her humans in strategic places around the house. Leo, who was born in a ditch, thinks his cat bed by the window is a marvelous place to watch for and welcome visitors to the house. He enjoys giving tours.

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

Mollie is a Brittany mix with a heart of gold who loves her friends at the CLS. Rescued from PALS in Grinnell in 2017, Mollie enjoys cuddles, naps, snacks, and making friends with everyone she meets. Her toes are very hairy and her ears are very soft.

CLS Human: Jess Pedersen

Piggy was adopted in January of 2023 from Poweshiek Animal League Shelter (PALS). He became quickly acquainted with his new home and with his pup sister Sky. Piggy enjoys lots of naps on his couch and bed. When he isn’t napping, you will likely find him with the zoomies, running up and down the hall of his home or cuddling with his human and sister. Piggy loves chasing lasers, sitting in windows, and begging for food all day like he never gets any. He is a goofy boy with a lot of love to give.

As far as Piggy’s role in the CLS, he makes an occasional virtual appearance and is good at making lots of students smile when he does. He is a great cheerleader for all things CLS related!

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 Wroblewski

Queenie is a Snow Queen Pothos, rescued in 2021 at a plant swap when she was just a couple leaves in a red solo cup. Her favorite activity is basking under a grow light in her greenhouse cabinet where she lives with 19 of her closest friends.

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: Jess Pedersen

Sky – also known as Sky Baby, Baby Sky, or Tripod-Pup Sky – is an almost 2-year-old Pitbull mix. She was adopted in August 2021 from an animal shelter in Waterloo, Iowa. She is her human’s “Tripod Pup” because she only has three legs. Shortly before she was adopted, Sky had her front, right leg amputated due to an existing fracture that was discovered when she arrived at the shelter. Unfortunately, her injury couldn’t be corrected, so amputation was the best option for her to live her best life.  Don’t be fooled though – her tripod nature doesn’t slow her down at all. She loves rolling around in open grassy areas, chasing cats on her grand-paw-rents’ farm, playing “tug” with any toy she finds (whether it is designed for tugging or not), cuddling with her human, and licking every person she meets as a way to say hello. She is often told she’s the sweetest pup others have ever met, and her human agrees! Sky is a PRO at adapting and is learning new things about her confidence and physical abilities every day. Sky works from home most days and is a great cheerleader for CLS office operations from afar.