"NewB"
When senior Andrea Martin's boyfriend, Brad Siemens ('99) moved
to Thailand, she needed something fuzzy with which to cuddle.
With long floppy ears and a furry coat, her one-year old rabbit,
NewB[oyfriend]fits the bill. "It's better," said Martin,
"because we don't fight too much." NewB, who "thinks
she's a cat," loves mirrors, veggies, electric cords and
raisins.
"Raleigh"
Sir Raleigh Fingers's name is a cross between '70s major league
pitcher Rollie Fingers and 16th Century explorer Sir Walter Raliegh.
Senior Andy Leinbach's black lab is a purebred that couldn't
be used for breeding because of hip displacia. The six-year old
dog "has pathetically mournful eyes and loves walks by the
Mill Race," said Leinbach. Raleigh loves eating bananas,
as Leinbach discovered one day when he fed the bruised portions
of his banana to the dog. "Now we eat bananas together
and I feed him good parts, too," he said.
"Peat"
Named after senior Andrew Gascho's favorite type of ecosystem,
Peat[lands] was a lonely stray meowing in an open field until
Gascho adopted the kitten. Now the most cherished member of 420
House, Peat attacks feet, catches ants and loyally follows Gascho
around the house. "I'm cooking potato soup and she's in
the potato box," he said. Peat is a far cry from her orphan
origins and "sleeps around" in everyone's bed. Gascho
is contemplating getting her spayed for a Christmas present.
"Chapra"
Sophomore Darren Bender's gold dust gecko lives in a humid aquarium
filled with tropical plants in Bender's Yoder Second dorm room.
A diurnal lizard from Madagascar, her name is Chapra, Hindu
for gecko. Chapra eats crickets, flies and peach Gerber baby
food. "I love watching her catch her prey-grabbing and shaking
it in her mouth," said Bender.