Lilo and Leilani leap from Kaitlyn’s hand to her shoulder, crawl down her back and glide to the nearest available surface.

They are soon to be one-year-old sugar gliders. It’s their nature to be spontaneous. Ever since she was little, 17-yearold senior Kaitlyn Stone has loved animals. Growing up with animalloving parents, there were always pets in the house.

The Stone family currently owns four dogs, two sugar gliders, two hamsters, two cats, two bearded dragons and one snake. The animals keep the mood light according to Kaitlyn’s mom, Tammie Stone.

“It’s funny to watch my husband walk around with a purse with little sugar gliders in them,” Tammie said.

When Kaitlyn knew she was mature enough to care for a sugar glider last year, she found a private breeder in Columbia, MO. “We always say ‘No more animals’ but she is really good,” Tammie said. “One time she wrote a persuasive essay and made a power point.”

Tammie remembers Kaitlyn’s excitement the first time the three of them took home Lilo and Leilani for Kaitlyn’s birthday Feb. 2012. “She was so giddy,” Tammie said. “It reminded me of a little kid at Christmas — the excitement level. She was nervous and excited all at the same time, not knowing what to expect.”

Kaitlyn focused a lot on bonding with her sugar gliders. It took about two weeks to bond with Leilani and two and a half months to bond with Lilo.

“She really only likes me, and she likes to be in her cage and stay there because she feels safe in there,” Kaitlyn said, describing Lilo. “She’s more calm than Leilani.” Kaitlyn devotes a lot of energy to her pets, but still has time for Student Council and her boyfriend, senior Ryan Sebacher.

“She really cares about them,” Ryan said. “I would never want to have them because they would make me too nervous. She’s really good at taking care of them though.”

Kaitlyn sees Lilo and Leilani as a source of love that have helped her be an only child. “I’ve always loved animals and taking care of them,” Kaitlyn said. “And I guess I’m an only child, so I needed something to love and take care of.