Monday 25 January 2010

Remembering a Lifetime of Pets


I have recently been thinking about all the pets I have had since childhood. Reminiscence can be difficult and it is easy to become maudlin. Perhaps the most colourful pet I had was Alan - he was the one chick that became more than just a chicken. He was the strutting cockerel who would direct the hens to food. That made him popular with the girls. One day, I saw him facing off a fox, standing between it and his hens. Sadly, he was killed by the fox a few months later, right in front of my eyes on . . . my birthday! I was very sad.


7 comments:

  1. Stunning! He sounds wonderfully tenacious.

    You make me miss the two chickens I made pets of that actually belonged to a neighbor. Tweedledum and Tweedledumber. They'd follow me anywhere for a saltine cracker. My little buddies were also killed by foxes.

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  2. Sorry to hear your little buddies were killed, also. Great names, though.
    Laurie

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  3. Sorry to hear about your loss and on your birthday, too. Pets are such an important part of our lives and memories. Great idea for a blog.

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  4. Hi Linda. Nice to hear from you. Yes, so important to us, I agree.
    Laurie

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  5. Hi Laurie,

    Thanks for visiting my spot recently. I realize that it has been too long since I commented here. But I really enjoy checking out your updates. The photos are always interesting and thought provoking.

    I am sorry to hear what happened to Alan. Pets! Their lives are often too short and we attach ourselves to them.

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  6. I helped look after a cockerel called Jean-Luc in Wales a long time ago. He was exceedingly nasty.

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  7. Here is a very odd and sad thought. Last year, due to age and illness, I had to put down two very old and very loving pets.

    It occurred to me that I am too old to properly train and care for any new large breed dogs. It gave me a bit of relief in knowing I would never have to endure this heartbreak again.

    My last two animals are also "rescues" that I have had for about five years each... a large cat and a four pound dog.... both with care will live another 10 to 15 years with good care.

    Then the most dreadful realization. They will both out live me. While I have many loves in my life, they only have me.

    I set out to immediately bond these animals to a younger member of the human race.

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