< Previous10 COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2022 C oastal Texans love their pets. That was clear as we worked on the December issue and met locals who go all out for the holidays, dressing up their dogs in cute Christmas outfits, hanging stockings and wrapping presents for them, too. It also was clear dogs and cats are differ- ent animals. One survey — and there are many such surveys — reports an astounding 89 percent of respondents said they plan to buy their dogs Christmas presents. I wasn’t sur- prised to learn dog owners are more likely than cat owners to give their pets gifts. Years ago, as young cat par- ents, my husband and I bought toys for our pets at Christmas. They were unimpressed. We learned cats are far more interested in the boxes gifts come in. But they’re not interest- ed even in the boxes if you want them to be. My sisters each year buy Christmas pres- ents for my cats. Sometimes, the cats enjoy the gifts. Other times, they’re bored or of- fended by them in the special way cats have. Still, our pets are family and we’re certain- ly not alone in feeling that way. Juniper, LouLou Bell and Jethro Bodine all are rescues — the girls we found on sepa- rate occasions as kittens fending for them- selves on Galveston streets. Bodine was abandoned by occupants of a rental house. He waited patiently for his owners to return. They never did. Bodine, a big cat with a purr as loud as an Evinrude outboard motor, came with a furry toy that makes a screeching noise when you touch it. Although often unim- pressed with gifts, he adores that awfully annoying toy, especially at bedtime. Efforts to replace it with a quieter toy have been rebuffed. The truth is, even though they use my furniture as scratching posts and love to unravel and shred toilet pa- per — a pastime that didn’t stop during the great COVID shortage — our pets are the real gifts to us. And the best gifts to them are safe, loving homes year- round. Several gen- erous pet owners we featured in this issue spread comfort and joy beyond their homes by donating to local animal shelters, and for that they should be commended. An adopted dog or cat would make an ex- cellent present for a prepared and responsi- ble family ready to take on the commitment. It’s an excellent way to bring joy into yours and the pet’s world. Coast Monthly wishes you a Merry Christ- mas and happy holidays. LAURA ELDER Coast Monthly editor FROM THE EDITOR RESCUE PETS BRING JOY TO THE WORLD Coast Monthly Editor Laura Elder’s three rescue cats: Juniper, from top, Jethro Bodine and LouLou Bell.Carolyn T. Gaido REALTOR ® CLHMS, CRS, RSPS, SRS 713.851.3377 CarolynGaido@SandNSea.com CarolynGaido.com Sand `N Sea Properties, LLC Top Agent Since 1999 Michael J. Gaido, III REALTOR ® 409.457.4900 MichaelGaido.com Kimberly A. Gaido REALTOR ® , SRS 713.498.2020 sandnsea.com 3222 ANTILLIES This is a rare 3 bed 3 bath Caribbean townhouse with nice upgrades including wind rated windows in 2018. 529 POMPANO 3 bedroom 2.5 bath on the canal in Bayou Vista 4116 AVENUE T 5 bedroom, 3 bath in-town and one block from the beach 1 & 2 WESTWIND Double size lot in Evia 1224 103 RD G aido R eal e state G Roup A trusted name with over 50 years of real estate experience 16717 DAVY JONES 2 bedroom and 1 bath Jamacia Beach 22118 MATAGORDA Updated 2BR/2BA canal front house in Sea Isle.12 COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2022 SHORELINES WE ASKED ON FACEBOOK: A sunfish sailboat when we were in high school. Sail was set up in the backyard. Carolyn L. Sunseri A collection of fiction and nonfiction books about Galveston from my parents! Stephanie Sunseri Doyle A penthouse stay at the The San Luis resort. Maci Stasson Wetsuit as a teenager, and surfed Christmas morn- ing in it in the east side of the Flagship. Jerry Jones best coastal Christmas present for me: a visit from my son during Christmas with a boat cruise thrown in. Bobby Martin A dog that loved water! Mike Janota Prepaid vouchers for the San Luis toll bridge to give to guests and family visiting on the holidays. Cindy-Kelly Seaton As smarmy as it may sound, waking up on Christ- mas morning and walking to an almost empty beach. The beauty, of course, is it isn’t ever really empty because of birds, people with their dogs, and the sound of the surf. I wouldn’t live anywhere else. Holly Thorson The smile of the child who was gifted a bike from a toy drive at Float. The very best! Glynda Parker Oglesby Snow, years ago! It was beautiful. Denise Sowell Shead My sweet white standard poodle, Mia, who went on to be named Princess of the Krewe of barkus & Meoux! I was a very, very proud fur baby momma. Wanda Buttner VIP tickets to see and meet Clay Walker at The bryan Museum. As someone who has it myself, he’s my multiple sclerosis hero. Alicia McReynolds Forsythe What’s the best coastal Christmas gift you have ever received?THERE’S A BETTER APPROACH TO CANCER CARE in Clear Lake 281.333.8899 houstonmethodist.org/cancer-clearlake The Woodlands Willowbrook Katy-West Houston Sugar Land Baytown Texas Medical Center Clear Lake At Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center, we treat every aspect of your cancer. Leading oncologists work with our specialists across disciplines to minimize cancer’s effects on major organs. One comprehensive team — dedicated to your individual care — uses the latest research, treatments and technology to stop your cancer. From infusion and clinical trials to surgery and reconstruction, our innovative care is available in Clear Lake. That’s the difference between practicing medicine and leading it. 14 COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2022 FEATURE HERE COMES SANTA PAWS Some coastal pet parents go all out to create tail-wagging holidays story by JOSÉ MENDIOLA F or many people, the holidays are about spending time with loved ones — even if those loved ones happen to be furry with four legs. Last year, rover.com reported the vast majority of dog owners it surveyed — 89 percent — plan to give their pets a gift this holiday season, up 9 percent from the year before. The survey made no mention of cats. For Galveston resident Mercedes Pang, dog mom of three, it’s about spending the holidays with Chewy, Charlie and Arthur. Chewy, the oldest, was found in a storm drain and rescued by Pang. Now, the dachshund terrier mix gets to receive presents and spend every Christmas with a loving family and two brothers. His brother, Arthur, who is “a mix of some- thing,” also is a rescue pet from the Galveston County Animal Resource Center, Pang said. “We went to go look at the dogs for Valen- tine’s and we walked away with him,” she said. Although Chewy and Arthur don’t like toys, Mercedes and her family dress up the boys in Christmas sweaters to get in the festive mood. COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2022 15 Arthur does his best impersonation of Max from Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” Arthur is a rescue dog from the Galveston County Animal Resource Center. Galveston residents Mercedes Pang and Keyan Mobli adopted him on Valentine’s Day four years ago. STUA r T VILLANU e VA16 COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2022 Keyan Mobli and Mercedes Pang sit with their dogs, Arthur, top, and Chewy, at their Galveston home. Chewy and Arthur don’t like toys but they will sport Christmas sweaters that are anything but ugly. STUA r T VILLANU e VA COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2022 17 FEATURE Charlie, on the other hand, receives toys for Christmas, Mercedes said. “Charlie gets toys like stuffed ani- mals,” Pang said. “But he will rip them up instantly.” PUPPY LOVE Sometimes, the pet is the gift, which was the case for Dickinson resident Jaz Jordan. Jordan, who is the mother of Rocco, a Yorkie, received the little pup as a gift one day from a close friend. At the time, dog ownership wasn’t in the picture and Rocco was a sur- prise, Jordan said. “I had no interest in a dog,” she said. “But somebody told me that I needed him. Now he’s my favorite thing in the world.” Rocco goes everywhere with Jordan. “I take him everywhere in a stroller, just as I would with a child,” Jordan said. “I take him to the mall, nail salon and sporting events — he loves it.” Rocco celebrates Christmas with presents, Jordan said. “He gets his own presents and opens them up himself,” Jordan said. “He has his own ornaments and even helps decorate the tree during Christ- mas. We’re really one happy family.” Rocco even takes photos with Santa each year, Jordan said. “I always take him to get photos and get Christmas cards,” Jordan said. “It’s something that anyone would do for their child. We always make sure we have a great Christmas.” TREATS YEAR-ROUND Having a great Christmas is what islander Johnny Steverson is all about. Steverson celebrates the holidays with his two rescue dogs, Rio and Penny. Rio, who is an Australian shepherd, and Penny, an Alaskan klee kai, are spoiled year-round, Steverson said. Rio and Penny enjoy BarkBox, a monthly delivery for dogs that comes Dickinson resident Jaz Jordan and her 5-year-old Yorkshire terrier, Rocco, get into the Christmas spirit each year. Jordan received the little pup as a gift from a close friend. Rocco is “my favorite thing in the world,” Jordan said. STUA r T VILLANU e VA18 COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2022 FEATURE with toys and goodies, Steverson said. They also receive Christmas gifts and treats, along with holiday stockings. And they’re dressed up in holiday style, Steverson said. Treats are a common subject in the Steverson household and the dogs often are treated to Starbucks pup-cups and also cakes for their birthdays, Steverson said. ‘BASICALLY OUR CHILDREN’ Christmas celebrations are cherished traditions at the island home of Frank and Teffeny Caruso. The house is inhabited by three Pomeranians — Bear, Biscuit and Bacon — and one Himalayan cat, Beau. “We all get into the holidays,” Teffeny Caruso said. “I play Christmas music and they watch me as I’m setting up all the holiday decorations, that’s where it begins.” The pets receive their own stockings, get new toys and new beds to sleep on, Teffeny Caruso said. “I even got them Tiffany food bowls once,” she said. “We Galveston residents Frank and Teffeny Caruso’s Christmas celebrations include three Pomeranians — Bear, Biscuit and Bacon — and one Himalayan cat, Beau. “This isn’t Christmas for us. This is Christmas for the pets, even for the ones that need it the most.” TEFFENY CARUSO PHOTO: COU r T e SY T e FF e NY CA r USO don’t have kids ourselves, so they’re basically our children.” For Christmas dinner, Teffeny makes a prime rib roast from which Bear, Biscuit and Bacon receive the finest table scraps. “They even get to open their own gifts for Christmas,” she said. “Bear guards the presents all day; he won’t leave, which is unusual because he follows me all around the house.” The Carusos don’t limit their generosity to their own pets. They donate to the Galveston Island Humane Society and the Pom Squad Rescue, she said. Pom Squad Rescue is a group of people that rescue healthy Pomeranians in line to be euthanized in shelters. “This isn’t Christmas for us,” Teffeny said. “This is Christ- mas for the pets, even for the ones that need it the most.” PHOTO: COU r T e SY JOHNNY ST e V er SON Jarod Aman, left, with Penny, a 7-year-old Alaskan klee kai, and Johnny Steverson with Rio, a 4-year-old Australian shepherd.Next >