Charles M. Schulz, the creator of the “Peanuts” comic strip, famously said, “Happiness is a warm puppy.” Turns out, birds, cats, lizards — you name it — can bring their owners a lot of joy, too. And where there’s love, there’s lots of pampering: special toys and treats … one — or several — favorite beds … calming music … and even custom accessories.

At Penn Lines, we adore our animals, so we hatched an idea: Let’s feature our readers’ pampered pets. The response from all of you was overwhelming; we were flooded with photos and stories that were both funny and touching. We wish we could have featured them all, but sadly we ran out of space in the magazine long before we ran out of options.

After hearing our readers’ tales (or should we say, tails?), it’s no wonder the pets on the following pages live such magnificent lives because, honestly, how could anyone say “no” to these faces? Enjoy.

Mr. Nacho

‘Small but mighty’

You may have heard of the Beverly Hills Chihuahua, but have you heard of the Gettysburg Chiweenie? Meet Mr. Nacho, a 9-year-old cross between a Chihuahua and dachshund (sometimes referred to as a Choxie) and resident fashionista.

“He struts along like he’s in charge,” says Patricia Roberts, Mr. Nacho’s owner and a member of Gettysburg-based Adams Electric Cooperative. “Any truck, car, person or dog that walks by, he definitely makes himself known. As little as he is — he’s less than 10 pounds — he’s small but mighty. … No one is going to get the best of him.”

From hand-stitched outfits and themed bandanas — one reads “I’m the boss” — to personalized, matching blankets and toys, Mr. Nacho never lacks for style. Rescued from a local shelter, Mr. Nacho now enjoys regular spa treatments, which include a bath, an oatmeal facial, ear cleanse and nail trim. Afterward, he fills his belly with delicious human-quality meals and treats before belly rubs and a nap on the couch.

“He has all sorts of toys, but he loves his Lamb Chop,” Roberts says, referring to the sock puppet voiced by comedian Shari Lewis. “I’ve bought so many Lamb Chops from the grocery store for him!”

Hummy

From the streets to the good life

Some pets are born with silver bowls at their feet. Some go from rags and work their way up. In 2013, Katrina Kalicky, a member of Cambridge Springs-based Northwestern Rural Electric Cooperative, took pity on a cat roaming the streets of Columbus, Ohio.

Catapulted into a life of luxury, the orphaned cat was given a new name: Hummy — short for Humbucker, which is a device used to cancel out noisy interference on guitars. Instead of hiding under dumpsters, Hummy now has his pick of five different beds and two cardboard boxes for his lounging pleasure. He even has his own blankets for kneading. But, even for cats, there’s more to life than snoozing.

Hummy likes to be a part of the family and has his own chair at the table.

“He’s one of those cats who has a lot to say,” Kalicky says. “He’ll ask for food … but he’ll also ask a lot to play. He even has a different meow for cuddles. … He will play and play until he is out of breath.”

Hummy’s life of luxury hasn’t dulled his instincts. In addition to an array of toys, he enjoys puzzles that hold treats inside. It helps keep his wits about him for the summer months when he brings back “gifts,” found while hunting, as a “thank you” for his pampered life.

Poncho

In a league of his own

We typically speak of pets as our “furry” or “four-legged” friends. As a sun conure — a vibrantly colored parrot native to South America — Poncho fits neither description, but he certainly enjoys plush living and easily qualifies as a pampered pet.

“He’s so funny,” says his owner, Sue Heyler, a member of Mansfield-based Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative, “[and] he knows what ‘funny’ means! If you say the word ‘funny,’ he starts to laugh!”

Poncho spends most of his time riding on his doting mom’s shoulder or playing in his condo of empty cereal boxes, which he chews into confetti.

“He doesn’t like anybody else. He just wants to be on my shoulder and rubbing up against my chin,” Heyler says. “My husband, John, comes over behind me and puts his arm around me, and Poncho goes … up onto John’s shoulder, all the way across his back, back down onto my other shoulder and looks John in the face. He is jealous and protective of me.”

Poncho thinks of himself as a tiny, winged person, she says, and prefers the food on her plate (though he will turn up his beak at cooked vegetables). His favorite dishes are mac and cheese, meatloaf, dinner rolls, shrimp, and baby-back ribs.

For a bedtime snack, Poncho enjoys cashews, bananas with peanut butter or cookies with milk. Heyler says he’s become adept at eating while standing on one foot, using his opposite foot to hold his food.

Piper

A man’s best friend

What could be more classic than a farmer and his faithful hound?

Piper, an 8-year-old border collie — referred to as “the Ranch Panda” by her owner Scott Lobaugh, a member of DuBois-based United Electric Cooperative — works hard herding all living things in her home state of Montana and is handsomely compensated for her troubles.

“[Scott] got Piper back when he was going to college … and she has been by his side 24/7/365 since,” explains Doug Lobaugh, Scott’s father, who refers to Piper as his grand puppy. “In the service bay where he worked on tractors, he completely wired in his work bench so that Piper had a kennel underneath … and he could have his dog at work every day.”

When she’s working, Piper wears an iconic Stormy Kromer hat for warmth and, if the wind is particularly cold, reflective goggles. Each day begins and ends with a hearty, home-cooked meal, and no matter where Scott’s headed, Piper is along for the ride, having traveled across the country from Montana to the family’s cooperative-serviced cabin in Leeper, Pa., at least seven times.

“She’s a well-traveled dog,” Doug proclaims. “She’s been in 17 states, maybe more.”

Jupiter

Born to slay

Jupiter may not be able to fly or breathe fire, but this 3-year-old bearded dragon manages to warm hearts nonetheless. Despite his scales and spikes, Jupiter is keen to snuggle with his owner Megan Jordan, a member of Huntingdon-based Valley Rural Electric Cooperative who has raised him since he was a 3-month-old hatchling.

After Jupiter has his breakfast, he surveys his kingdom with a quick patrol of the house before rushing back to Jordan for his morning cuddles and TV. Though diminutive, Jupiter lives large, dwelling in a custom-built condo, which includes a blanket and a plush, lizard-patterned bed.

“It takes up an entire room,” Jordan says of the structure. “It’s heated, so it’s usually right around 100 degrees. He likes it hot.”

Jupiter has a fetching collection of outfits for any occasion, ranging from biker leather for those rough and tumble outings to simple but elegant bow ties for more sophisticated affairs. He has a variety of harnesses with different colored wings for his daily strolls, and he even has a floral-patterned shirt, cut from a Ken doll and tailored to fit him.

Like any true dragon, Jupiter bristles at anyone who doesn’t recognize his magnificence.

“He loves when people fuss over him,” Jordan says. “If we go anywhere, and people don’t notice him or don’t come over and say, ‘He’s so cute,’ or stuff like that, he will get upset and look at me with little sad eyes.

“Jupiter may not be furry,” she says, “but he is proof amazing things come in tiny, scaly packages.”