NATCHEZ — Ellis and Sherri Felter can’t get away from each other, but they aren’t trying very hard either.

When The Dart landed on Mississippi Avenue on Saturday, the Felter’s, who have been married for 26 years, were doing what they do best — spending time together.

Ellis and Sherri work together and play together. But, that’s OK with them.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Ellis said.

The Felters are the owner of local hardwood flooring company and spend most days working in other people’s houses refinishing floor. They also work together in Sherri’s pet-sitting business, which she started about 11 years ago.

“I work with her in her business and she works with me in mine,” Ellis said. “It is a nice arrangement we have.”

But the jobs are just a means to an end.

What they’d rather be doing is spending time at home enjoying their family — three children and three dogs. The Felters are the parents of Emily Harrigill, who lives right across the street with her husband Tyler, Alex Felter, a student at Louisiana College and Steven Felter who will enter 10th grade in the fall.

They are also the proud parents to three dogs, a 10-year-old Yorkshire terrier Cookie, 3-year-old pug Quigley Otis and 10-month-old pug Petunia.

“We just love our animals,” Sherri said. “They are like kids to us.”

Which is evident by the smile on Ellis’ face as Petunia sits, speaks and dances for treats.

“She’s actually trained pretty well,” he said.

When the Felters aren’t working, which Ellis said is rare, they enjoy riding motorcycles. They have a Honda 750 and are now getting to ride it more often.

“We just put new tires on it,” Sherri said. “I’ve been just itching to get on and it now that we have the tires, we have been riding it.”

They enjoy taking the bike for day trips around the Miss-Lou, but also take longer trips.

But even on the motorcycle, the Felters can’t leave their love of animals behind.

Cookie, the yorkie, has her own special spot on the bike. Ellis wears a special pouch for dogs that Cookie sits in on rides. The dog also has specially made pink dog goggles, called doggles, that she wears while riding and a leather jacket she sports during cooler weather. And it seems Cookie is as avid a motorcycle rider as Ellis and Sherri.

“If she is inside and hears Ellis crank the bike she is at the door crying to go,” Sherri said.