When it comes to pets, Samantha Collins-Hamilton and her family are all in. Their household is home to eight beloved animals—two Golden Doodles, a Bernedoodle, and five cats, including two Persian cats. “We are our family!” Samantha says with a laugh. “We could not imagine our lives without them.”

The family’s pets come from all over. Most of their cats were adopted, while the two Persians belong to Samantha’s son, who’s heading into the Navy soon. The dogs were found through breeders, though Samantha jokes about the circumstances: “Thanks to vacation drinking, CC and Lincoln were purchased—separate times. I’m not allowed to drink and talk animals anymore.”

Life with eight pets is full of routines, mischief, and laughter. Every morning, Samantha can be seen walking the three dogs through Highland Springs and Crystal Springs, often drawing compliments from neighbors. The dogs are well-trained and love their daily walks, as well as playtime in the backyard. “Ford goes everywhere with me (gym, Pilates, even my dealership) and she loves the attention,” Samantha shares. “She’s a gentle soul, and her presence just makes people happy. I probably shouldn’t get my feelings hurt, since people seem to only notice her when we walk in anywhere!”

The cats, meanwhile, keep life entertaining in their own ways. Whether it’s barking at tiny noises or meowing near their food bowl, the Collins-Hamilton animals have developed some impressive “skills” of their own. Ford even enjoys a game of pool volleyball from outside the pool, bouncing the ball off her nose to score points, while CC critiques her technique and Lincoln simply looks confused.

Funny stories are an everyday occurrence in the Collins-Hamilton household. “My kids and I SnapChat animal pics up to 20 times a day,” Samantha says. “Generally, one of our animals is doing something that catches our attention. One of our sons lives in Columbus, so that’s our main communication throughout the day.”

For Samantha and her family, their pets are more than companions, they are part of their community. “When I tell people we have eight animals, it’s usually a look of shock,” she laughs. “I told my husband when we were looking for a house two years ago that we had to have 1,000 square feet per animal to be able to house them all and us. We got close to that, and they all have their little places to hide in it.”

Whether it’s daily walks, backyard play, or just cuddling on the couch, the Collins-Hamilton pets fill every corner of their home, and every moment of their lives, with joy, laughter, and love.