Skip to Content
Opinion

Arf! Meow! …Ribbit? Let’s Talk About Your Pets on This Week’s Open Thread.

As we do every Friday, we're turning Racket over to you, the readers.

Lucy Hawthorne|

From left to right: Koda, Jay, Apollo.

In a week that overfloweth with grim news—Elon's kleptocratic gutting of the federal government, the utterly feckless opposition party response, Kanye West declaring "I AM A NAZI"—we're choosing to keep things light for this Open Thread. Light 'n' fluffy, as it were.

That's right, we're plucking the lowest-hanging of all prompt fodder and asking: Tell us about your wonderful pets?

No arm twisting required of me! (I'm writing this Open Thread intro because Keith, the usual author, is "hopelessly incurious about animals"—hmm.) In the photo above, you'll see my and my wife's rescued Siberian huskies, Koda and Apollo.

We got Apollo six years ago from the Golden Valley Humane Society; he was just three at the time, but had already experienced two previous owners. It became quickly apparent that the sweet boy had some... issues. Namely, horrible separation anxiety that caused him to dismantle crates, dig through hardwood floors, and pee everywhere. (It must be noted he's also tender, adorable, and loving!)

In an attempt to cure Apollo, we obtained Koda from Adopt a Husky MN weeks before the pandemic. Reportedly, he had been discovered wandering the northwestern suburbs without a collar or microchip, yet the one-year-old goofball was already housebroken and equipped with basic commands. (Although husky owners already know those commands often fall on disinterested ears.) He's a hyper-social hit with friends and visitors.

Koda's company more or less cured Apollo! The boys love play-fighting, going on walks by Minnehaha Creek, and cuddling on all of our furniture with no boundaries whatsoever. We love them.

But enough about our wonderful boys! Tell us about your critters. How'd you get 'em? What are they like? Any zany pet-related stories you've got in the hopper for small-talk at parties? Let's hear it all.

Or, of course, you can ignore this prompt and talk about whatever you want. This is your Open Thread, after all.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Racket

‘More Influential Than the British Invasion’: Obi Original Is Leading MN’s Afrobeats Takeover

Nigerian music is hotter than ever. One Minnesota musician is making sure that highlife guitar gets its due.

August 14, 2025

Guess What Most of Gov. Walz’s U of M Board of Regents Picks Have in Common…

Plus stinkin' Twins owners remain, more Kathy Cargill drama, and your definitions of Uptown in today's Flyover news roundup.

How Screwed is Target?

Plus the Strib goes hardcore for high school sports, Boelter gives a worthless interview, and MN toilets are up for an award in today's Flyover news roundup.

It’s Feeling a Lot Like Mid-August in Your Complete Concert Calendar: Aug. 12-18

Pretty much all the music you can catch in the Twin Cities this week.

August 12, 2025

In South Minneapolis, the Black Radish Transforms Lawns Into Vibrant Urban Farms

Every scrap of an acre TBR has cobbled together has been turned into artfully designed, sustainable, organic farm space.

See all posts