It seems fair to say that animals live much simpler lives than humans — minus the whole fleeing from larger animals part. As we hope for a smooth transition into the new year, we can draw inspiration from our furry and feathered friends. Here are the Journal-World’s best animal-related photos from 2017, with some commentary on how the images were captured.

photo by: Nick Krug

A Labradoodle named Millie ignores the Downtown Shot Put event as other spectators watch from the roof of the Sandbar on Friday, April 21, 2017 at the intersection of Eighth and New Hampshire streets. Photographer's note: I had asked the owners of The Sandbar if I could photograph the Downtown Shot Put event from their roof, something I've done several times in the history of the event. As my head peeked above the roof line, everyone else was fixated on the action below on the street and this little dog was staring me down.

photo by: Nick Krug

An armadillo named Mulligan curls up into a ball during a presentation on Thursday, July 13, 2017 at the Lawrence Public Library. Rachael Rost, an education specialist the the Topeka Zoo, brought with her several animals to show to local children and parents. Photographer's note: Sadly, I, like many other people, had never witnessed a live armadillo until this moment. The closer we got during the presentation, the more endearing the animal seemed underneath its upholstery.

photo by: Nick Krug

A mother goose and four of her young walk along the south bank of the Kansas River on Friday, June 23, 2017. Photographer’s note: I found these geese while on another assignment about walking and biking paths in Lawrence. A cyclist, who apparently took issue with me shooting his photograph while riding along the path, turned and made a rude gesture to me after I shot a photo of him zipping by. The geese, on the other hand, didn’t seem to mind the camera at all.

photo by: Nick Krug

Vietnam veteran John Musgrave, a member of the 1st Battalion 9th Marines, is approached by his dog Chesty, who is named after legendary U.S. Marine "Chesty" Puller, Thursday, June 1, 2017 at his home in Baldwin City, Kan. Musgrave is featured in the Ken Burns' documentary "The Vietnam War," which premiered in September Photographer's note: I don't make a habit of including family pets in photographs unless there is a really good reason for doing so. That's mainly because doing so tends to project a cheerful tone that may not be appropriate for the image as it relates to the story. In this case, however, I had Musgrave positioned before the front window within his house. I was using natural light from the window but was also in the process of setting up an additional light when his dog Chesty sat down in front of him and stared up into his eyes. I put my lights down, picked up my camera and shot until the dog turned away. ..In this instance, I think the dog revealed a gentle side to the veteran, war protester and poet that I couldn't replicate no matter how well-lit the situation was. So, I packed up my lights and we shook hands and called it good.

photo by: Nick Krug

Framed by shake shingles, a cat relaxes in the window of a home in East Lawrence on Tuesday, May 30, 2017. Photographer's note: Because photographs of cats are so ubiquitous, I don't dedicate too much time in search of them. But with this one, simply because of the way it was framed sitting within the window, I was unable to resist stopping my car and shooting just a few photos.

photo by: Nick Krug

A dog named Cotton gets a first-class ride within his owner Levi Burd's hoodie while the two cruise up Mississippi Street on Friday, March 10, 2017. Burd, who lives in Lecompton, spent part of the morning riding through Lawrence with Cotton on his way to the trails at Burcham Park. Photographer's note: I'd be super nervous trying this, and I can't think of a single animal in the world that I've met that would willingly sit still within a hood while I raced up the street. Cotton, however, didn't move a muscle. He seemed incredibly relaxed and not the slightest bit worried.

photo by: Nick Krug

A roomful of spectators watch as an opossum named Penny crawls back into her carrier following a presentation on Thursday, July 13, 2017 at the Lawrence Public Library. Rachael Rost, an education specialist with the Topeka Zoo, brought with her several animals, which included a three-banded armadillo, a tortoise, a baby alligator, a turkey vulture and a Great Horned owl to show to local children and parents.