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 I love animals! How about you?
My pet friends have given me great satisfaction during my life. Unlike my human friends, my animal friends were always there for me. They were with me when the whole world seemed to have abandoned me! A lot of folks feel the same way I do about animals, and more and more folks are memorializing their pets in honor of their contributions to our lives.
Sheba was our beloved German shepherd who was there during my boyhood. Sam was an “Old Yeller” type of dog, solid, reliable, and good-natured too.
Wimpy was a Chihuahua who decided that Sam would be her mate, and amazingly, they produced Tiger, a playful dog with a big heart.
Coco was one of our Chihuahuas during my boyhood. I once got too close to Coco’s box where she was nursing a new litter of pups. Coco chomped down on my bottom lip. As Coco tightly held on, I stood straight up. It was a moment that I will never forget! (Smile) Fortunately, for both myself, and Coco, there was no harm done to either of us.
 Tom the Steer was a hand-fed Holstein steer with a delightful disposition. My sister Emma Jean called him “Tom-Tom.” He liked to have his head scratched. You could walk up to Tom, and he would appreciate a good scratch. I was saddened to learn of his slaughter. I decided then that one should never make a pet of, or name, any animal that would ultimately be slaughtered.
Dynamite was my pony, and Mammy was the pony ridden by my younger sisters Emma Jean and Lena. I used to enjoy riding Dynamite bareback, and my cousin Billy talked about how he rode behind me and how I talked about Dynamite “changing gears” as she went from a trot to a gallop.
Princess and Charlie were my feline companions for many years. Both lived with me from the time they were young kittens until they were an advanced age.
Melvin was a beautiful scarlet Macaw that I owned for six years. I still possess a scar or two that from time to time reminds me of Melvin. Macaws are loud, messy birds, and too much maintenance for me, but I enjoyed Melvin and his contribution to our household. I used to take him for walks through the neighborhood as my neighbors looked at me. I still have folks saying, “You’re that guy who used to walk through the neighborhood with that parrot on his arm.” I sold Melvin to a neighbor in 1997 as my life was changing, and I had no place to keep him. Macaws can live to be 100 years old. I hope he continues to live a good life.
Muffin is my Chihuahua. She is approximately 11 years old now, and she is on the down slope of life. She still sleeps with her papa most nights. I take her with me to most places when I travel. She is a constant companion in my life.
The Fletcher Family Pet Memorial will honor these and all other pets and will have a permanent place in our family memorial site. Somehow, it just seemed like the thing to do!
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