Elephant

Life with my new pet has been a challenge because I chose one that is larger than what can fit in my house. During my time of living in Southeast Asia, I decided to adopt an elephant because I rescued him from poachers in the jungle of Sri Lanka. He was transported by ship from Sri Lanka to Florida, and I rode alongside him; feeding him, stroking his trunk, and cleaning the wounds he received from the poachers, which kept him safe from infection.

After we arrived in Miami, I had to hire a large truck to transport us to Gainesville. After arriving in Gainesville, I had to build a large pen in my backyard for Babiya because he would not fit inside my house. I had to contract with a local cooperative to get wholesale prices on vegetables so that I could feed him as much food as he needed. I also had to sell my car to pay for the food. But, who needs a car when you have an elephant? Babiya became my primary means of transportation. I had to leave much earlier for work because he was a bit slow, but it gave me plenty of time to read the paper, stroke his head, and drink my coffee. I had to convince my employer to allow a pen to be built outside for him to stay in during the days while I worked. In exchange, he became a pet therapy animal for our Children's Hospital. He was very gentle and allowed all of the sick and able children to ride on his back, which brought a lot of joy to them.

Life now revolves around this relationship with my new pet. Fortunately I started dating someone really amazing who was very patient and understanding about Babiya. Our first date was actually a three-hour ride out to Paynes Prairie under the stars. She had adopted a few cats, several dogs, and a bird during her life, so she was more than willing to accept an elephant, making her the right match for us. Now, we have a complete zoo and only need a monkey or two to complete it.

As far as the rug, since Babiya can't come in to the house due to his size, I brought a soft rug back from Sri Lanka for his outdoor pen, which makes him very happy. He rolls around on it every night and enjoys large pillows and blankets to nest in and snuggle up with.

My life has forever changed. I wouldn't trade the decision to adopt him for the world.