We are each individuals, with our own abilities, personalities, preferences, mannerisms and, some would say - quirks. Well, as it turns out, so are our animal friends.

Certain cats and dogs have been known to be able to figure out how to open locks, while others are as clueless to this task, as some humans are when it comes to putting paper into a photocopy machine correctly, or inserting a videotape into a VCR without jamming it.

While many animals become terrified of such loud sounds as fireworks, others don't seem to mind as much. Then there is the forever interesting quirky behavior. I know a local cat who, when the 4th of July fireworks began, would sit in the window, hissing and spitting, as if to tell whoever was causing the disturbance to cease and desist immediately! And there was the little Avalon dog who, when taken for a walk on a leash with both her humans, would insist adamantly that all three of them stick together every moment, until they arrived home again.

A local couple reports that one of their cats, when introduced to a breakaway collar (which many cats refuse to wear), did not object at all but quickly figured out how to unhook it and carry around with her as her favorite toy. Another cat whom they call The Napkin Bandit will wait till their backs are turned and make off with a table napkin which is never to be seen again. And another local indoor cat is fond of carrying her toy mouse around the house, until some human says, "Oh, you have Baby with you...?" at which time she freezes and drops the toy mouse, for some reason known only to herself.

So it looks like animals can be just as individualistic as we are - it just seems to take a bit of observation on our part, to realize it...!