Pets for a day

We all went to the zoo as kids. It went downhill from there, didn't it? Familiarity with the animal kingdom causes us to take creatures for granted. That is, until we encounter new species unlike any we had seen before. (Hello, Animal Planet.)

I remember all of our childhood pets: dozens of dogs, at least three kinds of birds, various fish, exactly three goats, and even chickens (it is quite traumatic to see your pet beheaded to become your dinner). The memories seem so distant now. I sometimes have to remind myself that we used to have them at home because we don't have pictures of all of them.

And then there are the pets we've never had and never will. Ostriches, anyone?

Port Dickson Ostrich Farm

 

Such big flightless birds. Kids can go for two rounds in the pen, but adults can just sit for a photo op. We missed the ostrich race but they put on a two-bird run for the families that came at about the same time as us.

There were various types of fowl, from native chickens, black chickens, quails to a type of turkey I cannot identify. I don't think I'll go back to raising poultry. I still feel iffy about eating animals you yourself raised.

Ostrich satay has fibrous texture

Kitties should not be caged

Say hi to the rather tame John Dragon the iguana. He won't stop eating as long as there is food.


Not as cold and slimy as I expected

There are also dogs, ponies, snakes, turtles, and monkeys. I'd like to have a dog or a cat in the studio, but that may be a while from now. Pets need a good deal of care.