Real Simple | Life Made Easier, Every Day
Make RealSimple.com My Homepage|Simply Stated|Newsletters|Real Simple Rewards|Photo Galleries|SUBSCRIBE
  • Food & Recipes
      • Browse All Recipes
      • Recipe Collections & Favorites
      • Cooking Tips & Techniques
      • Shopping & Storing
      • Tools & Products
      • New Uses For Old Things
      • All Food & Recipes
      • Guide: Thanksgiving Recipes and Leftovers
      • Checklist: Gourmet Spice Checklist
      • Video: How To: Shape a Double Piecrust
  • Home & Organizing
      • Organizing
      • Cleaning
      • Decorating
      • Home Improvement
      • Gardening
      • Green Living
      • New Uses For Old things
      • All Home & Organizing
      • Guide: Holiday Organizing Tricks
      • Checklist: Houseguest Prep Checklist
      • Video: How To: Hang a Picture
  • Beauty & Fashion
      • Clothing
      • Shoes & Accessories
      • Skincare
      • Makeup
      • Hair
      • Makeovers & Tips
      • Clothing Care
      • All Beauty & Fashion
      • Guide: Winter Beauty Tips and Tricks
      • Checklist: Cold-Weather Fashion Travel Essentials Checklist
      • Video: How To: Apply Makeup in Five Minutes
  • Holidays & Entertaining
      • All Holidays & Entertaining
      • Holidays
      • Weddings
      • Birthdays
      • Entertaining
      • Gifts
      • Guide: Holiday Decorating Ideas
      • Checklist: Christmas Countdown Checklist
      • Video: Doable Decorating From the Craft Store
  • Health
      • All Health
      • Nutrition & Diet
      • Fitness & Exercise
      • Mind & Mood
      • First Aid & Health Basics
      • Preventative Health
      • Guide: Stay Healthy for Cold and Flu Season 
      • Checklist: Hospital Stay Checklist
      • Video: How To: Tone Your Upper Arms
  • Work & Life
      • All Work & Life
      • Money
      • Family
      • Life Strategies
      • Technology
      • Travel
      • Etiquette
      • Entertainment
      • Guide: Smart Shopping 101
      • Checklist: Identity Theft Prevention Checklist
      • Video: How To: Pack a Suitcase
  • Magazine & More
    • Magazine & More
      • All Magazine & More
      • Inside the Magazine
      • Inside the Website
      • Newsletters
      • Real Simple Products
      • Real Simple Rewards
      • Books & Back Issues
      • Simply Stated Blogs
      • Subscribe
      • Subscribe: Subscribe to Real Simple Magazine
      • Try Real Simple!: Get a Free Preview Issue of Real Simple
      • Give a Gift: Give the Gift of Real Simple Magazine
  • Homepage
  • Work & Life

Real Simple Staffers Love Their Pets

The stories behind the adorable animals who own our hearts.

  • PRINT
  • E-MAIL
  • COMMENT
  • SAVE
  • SHARE:
  •    more
Page 1 of 11

Kristin van Ogtrop

George, Owned by Kristin van Ogtrop, Managing Editor

One of the sweetest traditions we observe at Real Simple is publishing, each spring, the photographs of babies born to the staff during the previous year. This time we’ve decided to celebrate a different beloved family member: the pet.

My own household currently contains assorted members of the animal kingdom, but the pet who reigns supreme is our 16-year-old cat, George. My husband and I adopted George as a kitten when we were clueless newlyweds; he provided our introduction to parenting, among so many other things. Over the years, George has grudgingly come to share his place in our hearts with three children, a number of hamsters, countless fish, and―horrors―a dog, but he will always remain our first child.


Next: Elmer, Owned by Madaline ...
Skip to Daily Finds slides.

Related Content

What’s the Worst That Could Happen?

10 scenarios (from washing the dog with shampoo to bouncing a check) you can stop worrying about.

  • Pet Basics
  • New Dog Owner Checklist
  • 8 Things Your Pet Shouldn’t Eat
  • Get Your Pet Groomed Midweek

What do you think about this article? Share your own solutions and ideas

View Earlier Comments
  • Mouse Icon Blogs
  • Camera Icon Videos
  • Checkbox Icon Checklists

Hot Topics

Browse All Blogs
New
  • Do You Always Serve Turkey for Thanksgiving?
  • Leopard Print: Love It or Leave It?
  • Are CD Players Obsolete?
  • Who Is Your Favorite Author?

How-To Videos

Browse All Videos
Videos
  • Doable Decorating from the Office Supply Store
  • Display Holiday Cards
  • Apply Eyeliner
  • Clean Hardwood Floors

Checklists

Browse All Checklists
Checklists
  • Dinner Party Checklist
  • Holiday Cookie Exchange Checklist
  • Mail-Organizing Checklist
  • Organizing the Kids' Room Checklist
Advertisement

Top Galleries

See All Galleries
  • "Star Trek" film still with Chris Pine

      What to Do This Weekend

  • Maple Pumpkin Pie

      30 Deliciously Easy Thanksgiving Desserts

  • Holiday cards display on a mantel

      5-Minute Holiday Decorating Ideas

  • Extra Long Cable Knit Gloves by Fred Flare

      7 Cozy Winter Gloves and Mittens

  • Mashed Sour Cream and Scallion Potatoes

      24 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Recipes

Real Simple | Life Made Easier, Every Day
In The Magazine
  • This Month's Issue
  • Subscribe
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • Books and Back Issues
RSS
  • Sign up to get ideas instantly!
Inside Real Simple
  • Food & Recipes
  • Home & Organizing
  • Beauty & Fashion
  • Health
  • Holidays & Entertaining
  • Work & Life
  • Magazine & More
  • Weddings
  • Travel
  • Technology
 
  • Decorating
  • Gardening
  • Cleaning
  • Money
  • Family
  • How To Guides
  • Ask Real Simple
  • Simply Stated Blogs
  • Daily Finds
  • Real Simple Products
More Information
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Customer Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Print Media Kit
  • Digital Media Kit
  • Real Simple Rewards
  • Site Map
Real Simple Newsletters To receive any of these free e-mails, select the ones you're interested in and enter the required information.
  • Weekly Tips Newsletter (see sample)
  • Daily Finds (see sample)
  • Daily Thought (see sample)
  • Wedding Newsletter (see sample)
  • Daily Recipe Newsletter (see sample)
  • Ask Real Simple (see sample)
  • Keep-It-Together Checklist (see sample)
Copyright © 2009 Time Inc. Lifestyle Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.