As anyone who has loved a dog, cat or other animal companion knows, our four-legged friends are so much more than that. During the pandemic, the special bond we share with our pets seemed all the more meaningful when the snuggles and tail wags we crave became welcome connections in a seemingly disconnected world. As we said goodbye to 2020 and hope for a fresh new start, we decided to celebrate our pets and their people, too.
Below we introduce you to some human members of the local community—from NASA scientist to college football coach, yoga instructor to school board member—along with their beloved dogs and cats.
Photo by Kate Baldwin
Terry O’Quinn
Actor, Star of TV’s Lost
Pet: Momo, 4, Tabby
Photo by Sara Harris Photography
Jon Wehner
Winemaker, Owner of Chatham Vineyards
Pet: Tucker, 3, Yellow Lab
Photo by David Uhrin
Betsy DiJulio
Art Teacher with Norfolk Academy
Pets: Patsy, 6, Shepherd Black Mouth Cur and Urban, 6, Pit Bull-Catahoula Leopard Dog
Photo by Janice Marshall-Pittman
Laura Seay
Violinist with Virginia Symphony Orchestra
Pets: Blue, 11, Dark Weimaraner and Dax, 3, German Shorthaired Pointer
Lian Mosher
Yoga Teacher, Manager with Full Circle Yoga + Pilates
Pets: Boba T. Fett, 6, Domestic Short Hair; Mango Sticky Rice, 3, Tabby and Kimbap, 6, Munchkin
Photo by Maurice Kleinman
Kara Friend
Breast Surgeon with Riverside Health System
Pets: Emma, 4, Boxer Mix; Jon Snow, 2, Boxer Mix and Mina Barker, 7, Mixed Breed
Photo by Maurice Kleinman
Tina Banks-Gray
School Board Member with the City of Hampton
Pet: Tigger, 17, Bichon Frise
Photo by Maurice Kleinman
Dave Piatak
Aerospace Engineer with NASA Langley Research Center
Pet: Alistair, 8, Labrador-Blue Heeler
Photo by Janice Marshall-Pittman
Ricky Rahne
Head Football Coach for Old Dominion University
Pet: Kodiak, 3, Saint Bernard
Photo by David Uhrin
Jen Lewis
Radio/TV Personality with 92.9 The Wave
Pet: Billy Baroo, 2, Petite Goldendoodle
Photo by Will Hawkins
Nicholas S. Ilchyshyn
Firefighter, Advanced EMT with Norfolk Fire-Rescue
Pets: Dexter, 10, Husky-Akita-Cattle Dog and Scully, 8, Husky-Australian Shepherd
