It was an interesting experience to wake up with a dragon in our dining room. He was mostly quiet and considerate. Occasionally he got ambitious and moved things around in his living space, making clunking noises. George belonged to our neighbors who left on holiday for five weeks. I volunteered to be a critter sitter while they were gone. He and his tank were lodged on our dining room table for the duration.

This photo is of Sadie, our baby, and George, our prehistoric visitor, a Bearded Dragon. At the time, Sadie was about three years old, a rescue, so I’m not precise about her birthday. His age is undetermined but he comes from a long line of primordial legendary critters with massive life spans. He and Sadie bonded.

Sadie was sleeping on the back of the sofa in my office as I watched George, with a few minutes of out-of-tank time, explore the floor. He spied Sadie and climbed quickly up the sofa to check her out. She woke up with George nose to nose with her and they shared a few moments of wordless communion. Pleasantries were exchanged telepathically. I couldn’t resist the photo op. George returned to his tank to await another adventure on another day.

Our male cat, Oliver, also enamored with the exotic creature, spent hours lying beside George’s tank silently communing with him through the glass. George would sidle up near the place where Oliver lay, cock his head as if to say “what’s happening big guy?”

Our eldest feline, Nunny, said “ho-hum – just another space invader.” She ignored him completely. We were amused watching the variety of feline – reptile interactions.

When we had guests, George was the center of attention. All our meals were taken at the kitchen table. At the end of summer, our neighbors returned and came to reclaim George. I was happy to get my dining room back but we thoroughly enjoyed his visit.