IN PHOTOS: Hustler Pets 2023

It’s the furriest photo story of the year, and probably the cutest. Read on to meet The Hustler pets.

Phoebe and Max cuddling, as photographed on Nov. 20, 2021. (Hustler Staff/Rachael Perrotta)

By Jorie Fawcett, Life Editor

Apr 30, 2023

As The Hustler editors study for exams and pack their dorms, their favorite furry friends anxiously await their arrival home for the summer. From rabbits to horses and so many dogs and cats, The Hustler is only a few animals short of our very own zoo. Read on to see our tribute to the friends that stick by our sides through late night editing and beyond.

Hustler: Rachael Perrotta, Editor-in-Chief

Name of Pets: Phoebe and Max

Favorite Activity: Watching and talking to birds through windows

Fun Fact: Max has to be put to bed each night at 9 p.m. or he gets upset (routine includes belly rub on his blanket, fresh water and food and the door closed). Also, Phoebe likes sleeping on pillows.

One-liner; Max: “Please don’t pet me!” Phoebe: “Please pet me!”

Hustler: Aaditi Lele, News Editor

Name of Pet: Gabru “Gubby”

Favorite Activity: Sleeping

Fun Fact: His name means “dude.”

One-liner: “I challenge you to find someone who can sleep more than me.”

Hustler: Jorie Fawcett, Life Editor

Name of Pets: Reese and Ramona

Favorite Activity; Reese: Managing the house Ramona: Napping

Fun Fact: Reese turns 14 this year, and Ramona is named after Ramona Quimby

One-liner; Reese: “Can I speak to the manager?” Ramona: “Let me outside please”

Hustler: Barrie Barto, Photography Director

Name of Pets: Camelot and Arlo

Favorite Activity; Camelot: Wearing a “Hannibal-Lecter” mask so he doesn’t bite people. Arlo: Walking gradually slower the more you want to speed up and walking the slowest of any horse ever.

Fun Fact; Camelot: Is allergic to hay. Arlo: Loves eating Sour Patch Kids!

One-liner; Camelot: “I am having an identity crisis: am I a great white shark or unicorn?” Arlo: “The 1,500lb dog you never knew you needed.”

Hustler: Parker Smith, Data Director

Name of Pet: Julep

Favorite Activity: Fetch

Fun Fact: Scared of cats

One-liner: “Cucumbers over kibble”

Hustler: Isabella Bautista, Deputy Life Editor

Name of Pets: Luna, Leo, Sunny and Moe

Favorite Activity: Climbing all over the couches in the living room like cats or playing tag with each other.

Fun Fact: Leo snores as loud as a person when he sleeps.

One-liner; Leo, Sunny and Moe: “Wait, why did you stop petting me?”

Luna: “Go away, and leave me alone.”

Hustler: Duaa Faquih, Deputy News Editor

Name of Pet: Luna

Favorite Activity: Waking the humans up at 3 a.m.

Fun Fact: I once traveled with my mom on an 18-hour flight!

One-liner: “Don’t touch me.”

Hustler: Sara West, Deputy Photography Director

Name of Pet: Milo

Favorite Activity: Finding any rubber band that exists and tearing it apart.

Fun Fact: We changed his name three times when we first adopted him.

One-liner: Please be quiet, I am working.

Hustler: Claire Gatlin, Music Correspondent

Name of Pets: Bear and Chewie

Favorite Activity; Bear: sleeping; Chewie: fetching

Fun Fact: Bear is slightly older than Chewie, so when Chewie was a puppy, he learned from Bear. He sometimes still jumps like a cat.

One-liner; Chewie: “Where is mom?” Bear: (No words)

About the Contributors

Jorie Fawcett, Senior Advisor

Jorie Fawcett ('25) is from Tiffin, Ohio, and studies secondary education and sociology in Peabody College. She previously served as Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor and Life Editor. When not writing for The Hustler, you can find her teaching, reading or pretending to study at Local Java or Suzie's. You can reach her at [email protected].

Rachael Perrotta, Former Editor-in-Chief

Rachael Perrotta ('24) is from Cranston, R.I., and majored in cognitive studies, political science and communication of science and technology and minored in gender and sexuality studies in Peabody College. She was also previously Senior Advisor and News Editor. If she's not pressing you for a comment, she's probably trying to convince you that she's over 5 feet tall, cheering on the Red Sox or wishing Nashville had a beach. She can be reached at [email protected].

Aaditi Lele, Former Editorial Director

Aaditi Lele ('24) is majoring in political science and climate science with a minor in South Asian Language and Culture in the College of Arts and Science. She previously served as News Editor. Outside of The Hustler, you can find her crocheting, practicing calligraphy or counting down the days until she can see her dog. She can be reached at [email protected].

Barrie Barto, Editor-in-Chief

Barrie Barto ('25) is majoring in medicine, health & society and communication of science & technology with a neuroscience minor in the College of Arts and Science. She previously served as Photography Director. When she’s not hiking in Percy Warner, you can find Barrie cheering on the St. Louis Blues or tracking down the best gluten-free food in Nashville. She can be reached at [email protected].

Parker Smith, Former Deputy News Editor

Parker Smith ('24) is majoring in computer science and political science in the School of Engineering. He enjoys playing guitar in his spare time and is a former Starbucks barista and self-proclaimed coffee expert. He can be reached at [email protected].

Isabella Bautista, Senior Staff Writer and Photographer

Isabella Bautista (‘26) is double majoring in mathematics and biological sciences and minoring in psychology on the pre-medical track in the College of Arts and Science. She is from Easton, Pa., and previously served as Deputy Life Editor. When not writing for The Hustler, she can be found spending hours alone in a piano practice room, photographing Vanderbilt squirrels with her digital camera or reading up on penguin evolution in her research lab. She can be reached at [email protected].

Duaa Faquih, Former Staff Writer

Duaa Faquih ('24) is majoring in political science and minoring in communication studies in the College of Arts and Science. Apart from forcing her friends to watch videos of her cat, Duaa loves reading fantasy novels, painting and trying new restaurants. She can be reached at [email protected].

Sara West, Deputy Photography Editor

Sara West ('25) is majoring in psychology in the College of Arts and Science and human and organizational development in Peabody College. Sara loves going to concerts, thrifting and exploring new places. She was previously Deputy Photography Director and hopes to enter the music industry after graduating. She can be reached at [email protected].

Claire Gatlin, Former Life Editor

Claire Gatlin ('24) is a student in Peabody College studying human and organizational development and political science. In her free time, she enjoys going to concerts, reading and rollerblading. You can reach her at [email protected].

Comments (0)

The Vanderbilt Hustler welcomes and encourages readers to engage with content and express opinions through the comment sections on our website and social media platforms. The Hustler reserves the right to remove comments that contain vulgarity, hate speech, personal attacks or that appear to be spam, commercial promotion or impersonation. The comment sections are moderated by our Editor-in-Chief, Rachael Perrotta, and our Social Media Director, Chloe Postlewaite. You can reach them at [email protected] and [email protected].

Share your thoughts...

All The Vanderbilt Hustler picks Reader picks Sort: Newest