Pepper, a beagle-pit mix, and Lucy, a beagle, not looking one bit guilty at all. (courtesy of Jessica Pearson)
Real House Pets of Scripps Ranch
Scripps Ranch resident Jessica Pearson has morphed a popular TV reality series into a unique forum for local cat and dog owners to share their pets’ tall “tails.” Her two membership groups on Facebook, Real House Dogs of Scripps Ranch and Real House Cats of Scripps Ranch, are a howling success with dog owners, and cat owners say it’s absolutely purrrrfect.
“I created the two groups as a way for dog owners to share information with other dog owners; and for cat owners to do the same,” Pearson said. “I was always sharing pictures of my cats and dogs on my personal Facebook page and I wanted to create a way for pet owners in Scripps Ranch to share stories and information about their pets, too.”
Pearson’s idea took off faster than a greyhound racing toward the finish line. The dog and cat owners of Scripps Ranch embraced the idea, which currently has a roster of more than 500 members.
“There’s about 400 members of the Real House Dogs and about 130 members of the Real House Cats,” Pearson said. “It’s a lot of fun. Everyone loves posting pictures of their cats and dogs with corny captions.”
Pearson has also planted the seeds of a new forum with Ken Andersen, of the Walter Andersen Family Nursery, called Real House Plants of Scripps Ranch. This site is for novice landscapers and gardeners. It’s a perfect club if you have any questions about dogwood trees or cattail plants.
While Pearson’s Real House Dogs (and Cats) pages are private, but those you want to join the party won’t have much trouble joining.
“You don’t have to live in Scripps Ranch to be a member of our group,” Pearson said. “It’s not that we’re an exclusive club, but you must have some sort of a connection to San Diego or maybe you have a friend that’s in the group. Some people wanted to keep it just for our community and I said, ‘No, because my cat has cousin cats in Washington and Oregon.’ So, pretty much anyone is welcome to join, I just want to keep out anyone that seems a bit shady.”
Like most pet people, Pearson has special names for her four-legged friends. All of her extended family member’s names have a famous reference. Lucy, a Beagle, is named after Lucille Ball. Pepper, a pit mix, is named after Peppermint Patty. Annie, a tabby, is named after the musical. Charlotte, a Siamese mix, is named for “Charlotte’s Web,” and EJ, a buff tabby, is named after Elton John.
To join Real House Dogs of Scripps Ranch, click here. To join Real House Cats of Scripps Ranch, click here.
