Every weekday in the Morning Report, our free newsletter, we summarize the local news of the day and sign off with photos of our readers’ pets.

While the photos are mostly of cats and dogs, we also have shared pictures and stories of bunnies, guinea pigs, parakeets, Betta fish, miniature donkeys and many other creatures great and small.

Recently, as Thanksgiving approached, we asked newsletter readers to tell us why they are thankful for their pets — and to consider why their pets might be thankful for them.

Sarah and Eric Walburg with their dog Penny, a terrier mix, while on a walk in their Como Park neighborhood in St. Paul on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. Adopted from Happy Tails Rescue in Fridley, Sarah writes “I am thankful for Penny because she helps my husband and I get outside every day for walks, which has led to meeting lots of wonderful people around the neighborhood.” (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

Sarah Walburg of St. Paul responded with a shoutout to Penny, the dog she and her husband, Eric Walburg, adopted from Happy Tails Rescue in 2020.

“I am thankful for Penny because she helps my husband and I get outside every day for walks, which has led to meeting lots of wonderful people around the neighborhood,” Walburg wrote in a submission we shared with readers in Tuesday’s Morning Report.

Penny loves her daily walks.

We checked in with Walburg to find out more. That’s how we learned the couple started the doggie adoption process after purchasing their home near Como Park a month before the pandemic.

With a surging demand for pets during those early lockdown days, the couple had to wait until the summer to adopt a puppy of their own: Penny, a Terrier-mix from Oklahoma.

Since then, they’ve learned the joys and challenges of life with a puppy. Now 3-1/2, Penny still has lots of energy — but she also enjoys cuddling. Back in 2020, her big personality served as an ice breaker as the trio explored their new neighborhood on socially distanced walks.

Penny chillin’ at home.

“People definitely knew her name and not ours for awhile,” Walburg says with a laugh.

By the time the couple returned to their workplaces, the community Penny helped forge stepped up, with one neighbor taking the dog on walks while they were away. Even now, Penny and another neighbor dog meet up for weekly backyard playdates.

“It sounds like a fairytale, I know,” says Walburg.

There are always new friends to make, too, since Penny’s daily walks involve circling the lake at Como Park.

“It’s something I try to do anyway,” Walburg says of greeting strangers, “but I think Penny has helped us meet people who wouldn’t be that way, people of all ages and backgrounds.”

Penny has also helped nudge Walburg outside through the seasons.

“My husband is so much better at enjoying winter than I am,” she says. “But, once I’m out there and moving during our walks, I think, ‘OK, it’s actually not so bad out here.’ Penny has helped me get through winter and see the beauty of it.”

Sarah and Eric Walburg take their dog Penny, a terrier mix, on a walk in their Como Park neighborhood on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. Adopted from Happy Tails Rescue in Fridley, Sarah writes “I am thankful for Penny because she helps my husband and I get outside every day for walks, which has led to meeting lots of wonderful people around the neighborhood.” (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

That’s a lot of gratitude — and there’s even more below in this selection of the responses we received for our thankfulness prompt. (We have edited some for length.) Just like in the Morning Report, we hope our readers’ photos and words help you smile today. Happy Thanksgiving!

Sign up for the Morning Report by following the prompts at Twincities.com/newsletters.

Insulin

“We are thankful for Jesse who came into our lives as a fluffy, 8-week old kitty in 2005,” Tom and Linda wrote in an email. “He was 18 years old when he passed in August. He was diabetic for 10 years and he was thankful for his twice daily shots of insulin and we were thankful we could provide them. He was beautiful, quirky and loving. Along with us, his feline siblings Pablo, Bob and Lucy miss him.”

Jesse is missed.

Mom’s cat

“This photo is of our cat, Daisy,” Diane wrote. “She was my mom’s cat. When my mom passed away we knew Daisy had to stay in our family. Daisy passed away a few years ago but she will always have a special place in our heart. She was an awesome cat. We miss her so much.

“Thanks for sharing photos of our pets.”

Daisy was an awesome cat.

A companion

“Twelve years ago, on 11/11/11, this little sweetie came to live with me,” Linda wrote. “Back then she had a daddy (Jon) and a big sister (Miley). Now sadly, it is just the two of us. I love her pink nose and pink toe beans, fluffy tail and fluffy white bib. I love how she still likes to play with her many toys and then curl up for a nap. I love how she tucks in her legs and looks like a potato, how she supervises me when I am coloring and how I wake up in the morning to her sleeping on my legs.

“My sweet little Mazey!

“(I am also thankful for your great column. The pet stories and photos make me smile.)”

Mazey makees a good companion.

New friends

“I am thankful for my pet, Hammie, because he helped to mend my broken heart after the unexpected passing of my kitty, Benny,” Holly writes. “Hammie’s purrs always calm me down. He has helped to make our house a home again. Love you, sweet Hammie.”

Hammie heals hearts.

Snuggles

“I am thankful to Pippa (cat) and Louie Anderson (dog) for always making me smile, snuggles galore and sweetness all around,” Mikki wrote.

Louie Anderson (left) and Pippa.

Neighbors’ dogs

“Thankful to my neighbors for sharing these two gorgeous ladies, Soph and Luna, with Pip and Lou,” Mikki continued. “Thanks, Chad and Cody for being great Daddios. Perfectly behaved and kind every second.”

Soph and Luna, the neighbors’ dogs.

Acrobatic cat

“This is Grayson,” Deana writes. “I am so grateful for his ability to never allow us a dull moment. Here he is atop the door after launching from my desk. This is not his first time nor was it his only door. He keeps our neck muscles flexible from all the head shaking. The million dollar question at our house is, ‘What was that? Where’s the cat?!’

“Thanks for sharing all our precious pets with your fans!”

Grayson likes doors.

Daylight Saving Time

“My husband and I are thankful for our Havanese, Sadie, who makes us laugh every day,” Linda writes. “She has many quirky little habits that can be both funny and annoying at times. She is very bright and learns quickly. Sadie is very much a creature of habit and dislikes the current (end of) Daylight Savings Time, as her built-in clock tells her that her supper should be at 4:00, not 5:00.

“I believe she is thankful for us as we give her so much love and attention.”

Sadie makes people laugh with her quirky ways.

Breakfast

“This is Cricket,” Chris writes. “She is our big fluff ball of a cat. Cricket is 13 years old and starting to move slower with one leg that she limps on. We are thankful for her because she snuggles with our 8- and 10-year-old children along with her parents (Chris and Jess). Every morning she wakes up Jess (by bellowing loudly) for her morning breakfast, which she is very thankful for.”

Cricket is thankful for breakfast.

First cat

“I love seeing the pet section every day,” Kristy wrote. “I’ve been meaning to submit some of my furkids for a while. For today’s challenge, I would like to submit the following:

“I am thankful for my first cat, Mya. Having had a dog for so long, I wasn’t sure I’d be much of a cat person but wanted a companion for my dog. However, this sweet senior stole my heart. She was a bit surly at first, but quickly turned around and became the best biscuit maker and snuggler ever. I adopted her from Paws and Claws in Rochester in November 2020 and she sadly passed away suddenly from an extremely aggressive cancer on Valentine’s Day 2022. It was not enough time with her, but it was enough time to convert me to a cat person. I have since fostered a cat through Pet Haven, and took in my sister’s two cats after that. While I love them all, Mya will always hold a special place in my heart as the one that started it all.

“Thank you for sharing these stories.”

Mya is missed.

Littermates

“Our two kitties, Heidi & Bobbi, are thankful to our family because we adopted them as littermate sisters from the Humane Society a couple years ago,” Linda writes. “They sit side by side when staring out windows, snuggle together when napping and chase the same loose ice cube on the kitchen floor. They thank us by curling up on our laps, nudge our hands to gently pet them, meow and look with adoring eyes when they are about to be fed and create a loving presence in any room that we’re in.”

“Our two kitties, Heidi & Bobbi, are thankful to our family because we adopted them as littermate sisters from the Humane Society a couple years ago,” Linda writes. “They sit side by side when staring out windows, snuggle together when napping and chase the same loose ice cube on the kitchen floor. They thank us by curling up on our laps, nudge our hands to gently pet them, meow and look with adoring eyes when they are about to be fed and create a loving presence in any room that we’re in.”

Truces

“We are thankful for Malone the cat (13 years old) and Murphy the dog (4 years old), because they entertain us every day,” Debbie wrote. “We got Murphy as a pup and they are just now willing to be close to each other. We currently live in Arizona, but I look for your pet pictures/stories every day.”

Malone (left) and Murphy, almost friends?

Stray cats

“One-eyed Jack adopted us after two years of foraging in the neighborhood,” Janice writes. ” I think it was the fresh cooked ahi, salmon and chicken that enticed him to hang around.

“I’m thankful for the joy he brings to my mornings after a year of bed rest for spinal fractures. And I’m pretty sure he’s thankful for the love and attention and culinary treats!

“Unfortunately, my human son is very allergic, so Jack gets limited indoor respites. I’m hoping he can settle into a forever home — once I convince myself to find him one.”

Jack the stray is thankful for the family who is helping him.

Thumbs

“My cat Duster-Jack is a 17-1/2 lb black and white longhair with a bad attitude,” Catherine wrote. “He is however so thankful I have thumbs to open the pop top on his canned food.”

Catnaps

“Max and I are both extremely grateful for nap time,” Linda writes.

Max and Linda are thankful for naps.

Energetic dogs

“I am thankful for my dog Toby,” Pam wrote. “His energy keeps me going and his love and devotion to us keeps our hearts full.”

Toby “sharing” his bed.

Work-from-home pals

“I am thankful for my cat Ami, who we adopted on a trip to Puerto Rico,” Jodi writes. “She chose us — we weren’t looking to adopt, much less a kitten!

“Nearly five years on, she is playful, zany and cuddly. She makes us laugh every day. She loves to bat our patient dog on the nose and wrestle with our other cat.

“She keeps me company at my desk and reminds me to take breaks!”

Ami is a good work buddy.

Second chances

“My cat Tobey is thankful for me adopting him over six years ago,” Ken wrote. “Tobey’s original mom had to go into an assisted living facility and could only take one cat so Tobey was surrendered to the Nevada Humane Society, where he was traumatized by losing his mom, brother, home and everything he knew and going into a strange place.

“He acted out, hissed, spit, and bit people and had to go to quarantine for over a month. When he emerged from that, he would allow female staff to handle him. As a volunteer, I went down to see him. He hissed and spit and swatted at me but I spent 5-6 days a week for an hour at a time socializing him and after nine weeks, staff was amazed that I could pick him up and carry him around.

“He came home in June 2017 and became a very loving and vocal cat.

“I’m thankful that his original mom raised him with love so that he could show that side of himself once again.”

Ken with his cat, Tobey.

Senior dogs

“Seven years ago, our then-approximately 11-year-old senior dog was found matted, abandoned and abused on the streets of Stockton and brought into Humane Society Silicon Valley,” Ken wrote. “She was named Winnie and after being shaved and having two cancerous tumors removed we received an email about her and brought her home the week before Christmas of 2016.

“She was fearful of men, wolfed her food down in less than 40 seconds and was very quiet. She didn’t make a sound for over three weeks. Gradually she came to realize how to trust and be loved by people again and she began to blossom.

“She now lets me hold her to tell her how much she is loved before bedtime and she sleeps at Mom’s side. She has suffered another health setback and hope that we are able to have one more Christmas with her. She has truly been a blessing to be thankful for.”

Winnie is grateful for second chances.

Time

“You previously featured my girls Freyja (tabby with white) and Eurwyn (cream),” Allison writes. “Freyja passed in June 2022, and Eurwyn recently passed in November. Our pets’ lives are short — show them you love them every day!”

Eurwyn (left) and Freyja are missed.

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