No one can deny that CALS is home to exceptional people, but below, you will see the very best CALS has to offer…the behind-the-scenes companions of you and your fellow employees…our CALS pets!
Voting for your favorite pet will also benefit charity! Make a donation below to support the statewide Partners in Giving campaign.
Voting also automatically enters you in a CALS drawing for gift card prizes! Our business donors this year include include the Milwaukee Brewers, Parthenon, Café Hollander, the Madison Mallards & Night Mares, Forward Theater, Chipotle, Vitense Golfland, The Book Deal, and the Milwaukee Admirals. Per university rules, if you wish to be entered in this drawing without making a donation, please contact Amanda Givens directly (algivens@wisc.edu).
Voting Instructions:
- Go to this link
- $1 = 1 vote: choose your amount
- In the Special Events Description, please type “Pet: Name of pet you are voting for” (for example, Pet: Fluffy).
- Select “Madison” as your UW Location
- Select “AGRICULTURAL & LIFE SCIENCES, COLLEGE OF” (the first option) as your UW Division
- Enter your personal and card information
- Also possible–make your donation in cash by bringing it to Amanda Givens in 140 Ag Hall
Ozzie
Audra Koscik, Plant & Agroecosystem Sciences
“This is Ozzie, and he is from the Dane County Humane Society. Ozzie is around 100 pounds, and his favorite toys are toys made for horses. His nemesis is the lawn mower and mail carrier. He can recognize the hum of the USPS truck from blocks away. When he isn’t scheming, he likes the usual dog hobbies of chasing squirrels, rolling around in leaf piles, being petted, and playing with his dog friends Luna and Charlie.”
Nora and Lila
Kris Turkow, Biochemistry
“Nora and Lila are both mini bernedoodles, but have opposite personalities. Nora (left) loves her people and strives to always be as close to them as possible. She loves to lay in the sun or snuggle on the couch. Lila (right) is our happy, dopey muppet. She loves to play with other dogs, run laps of the backyard at full speed, and chomp on one of her million stuffies. Both think they are ferocious members of the neighborhood watch.”
Maple Wood Lane Anderson
Frankie Anderson, Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems
“Maple Wood Lane is a two-year-old calico tabby. She was named after the street she was found on when I heard her crying outside my condo late one night in September 2024. A blessing from the Universal Cat Distribution System, Maple is a cuddly ball of energy who loves playing. Here she is overjoyed with the Pokémon Center Magikarp fishing rod cat toy she received for her second birthday.”
Chourio and Miz
Cindy Austin, Meat Science & Animal Biologics Discovery
“Here’s a photo of my foster kittens Chourio and Miz from 9 Lives Rescue. They are 3.5 month old “voids” that I’m fostering to get the socialized so they can be adopted out to their forever home soon. Miz is a friendly girl that purrs the minute she sees me and Chourio is not so sure about humans yet but I assure him we’re going to be the best of friends!”
Ebby Calvin LaLoosh Rognsvoog
Amy Rognsvoog, Biochemistry
“Ebby works hard at his job of stick distribution throughout the DeForest community. He manages his territory via daily walks, making sure to stop to read the local news deposits from his constituents. He may be small, but he is a fierce advocate for squirrel reform and may be found in daily debates with squirrel representatives. His favorite time is when his family is together in pajamas watching hours or UW Badger March Madness Basketball.”
Enzo
Alicia Botes, Biochemistry
“Meet Enzo, our sweet-toothed, squirrel-obsessed floof monster! Cupcakes must be guarded whenever he’s around, and no squirrel goes unnoticed. His greatest love, though, is his best friend—our 4-year-old daughter (they are the same age!). They watch Bluey on the couch together, take naps together, and he patiently transforms into whatever her imagination dreams up, from a unicorn to a little granny! Enzo is the sweetest, most patient soul and the very best buddy a little girl could ask for.”
Pepper
Yizhou Mao, Plant & Agroecosystem Sciences
“Pepper, a 2-year-old cat! I named her Chili Pepper because she is very naughty. Her favorite hobby is running around the house at midnight. She is scared of even the smallest noise, but somehow becomes very brave when arguing with other cats through the front door! One night, Pepper pushed open the window screen and escaped. The next morning, I couldn’t find her anywhere. I spent so much time looking for her that I was already late for work. I was about to stop searching for now and continue searching after work, but suddenly she jumped out of a nearby bush! I carried her back home and gave her a serious lecture. But as you can see in the photo, she just gave me a stubborn and unimpressed look, as if she had done nothing wrong!”
Crouton
EB, Business Services
“This is Crouton. He is a leopard gecko. He often spends his time napping or mistakenly eating some dirt instead of his insects at mealtime. He has metabolic bone disease in his front legs which leads to a lot of strange but endlessly entertaining climbing methods around his enclosure. It certainly does not deter him. He is truly the embodiment of head empty, no thoughts, but he is the sweetest little dude.”
Chloe and Hazel
Ophelia Tsai, Plant & Agroecosystem Sciences
“This pair of sisters are the complete opposite of personalities. Chloe is an 8 year-old Border Collie/Blue Heeler mix, and Hazel is a 10 months old Siberian Husky mix! Their big satellite ears can detect the slightest sound of any food.”
Cowboy
Jaimee Campbell, Spooner & Rhinelander Ag Research Stations
“Meet Cowboy! Cowboy had a pretty rough start in life and came to Jaimee 11 years ago as a rescue from an awful situation. Jaimee was told that he was ‘crazy’ and ‘dangerous’ after he had attacked a cutting horse. To be fair, his job was as a Livestock Protector and he did exactly what he was supposed to do – Protect his herd from any animal posing a threat and he felt that big ole horse that was stirring up his cows was definitely a threat! He was roped and dragged from the pasture and placed in a trailer to die. The men who did this to him were proudly sharing the story in a bar when a friend overheard and offered to take him off their hands. Well after dark that night, a trailer rolled up on Jaimee’s little farm and the saddest creature ever stepped out and changed her life. He was elderly, grossly overweight and his hooves looked like elf shoes! Over the course of months, intensive rehab to his body, mind, and spirit brought out the sweetest little personality. He is an amazing listener and an excellent keeper of secrets and his favorite treat is a nice, sweet pear. He loves visitors and greets everyone with his giant heehaw! Cowboy lives out his days with his mini mule friend, Macintosh and together they bully a few beef cows for fun. Neither crazy nor dangerous, Cowboy is an absolute gentleman to all who meet him and an excellent representation of the resilience of donkeys.