Real Simple Staffers Love Their Pets

The stories behind the adorable animals who own our hearts.

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.