This week’s story is about friendships—the very special friendships we have with animals. As many of us can attest to, these relationships can be every bit as deep and enduring as our friendships with our fellow humans. Sometimes, even more so! Many of you know Max, the rooster who spent his recent years at the shelter. We are sorry to say that Max recently passed due to a respiratory illness. Today we would like to honor both Max and his lifelong friend Amy. They represent the best of friendship between species. Theirs is evidence of how strong these bonds can be and how both parties can be forever changed by that friendship.
Dogs often come to mind when we think of animal friends; however, as wonderful as they are, dogs don’t have the monopoly on human–animal bonds. Any animal can become a best friend! They can be as tiny as a mouse or as large as an elephant; they can be covered in fur, feathers, or scales; it doesn’t matter. The ONLY thing that matters is that the friendship flows both ways. And that’s how it was between Amy and Max.
When we consider what makes someone our friend, we think about enjoyable companionship, shared experiences, trust and respect, loyalty from someone who has your back, non-judgmental acceptance of who you are, and that elusive but powerful feeling of love for another. Friends can introduce us to other worlds, help us become open to new perspectives, and see life in a new way. We can experience all of this with animals; and when we are at our best, they experience those same things with us.
Max’s lifelong friendship with Amy began almost 7 years ago, and it seemed meant-to-be from the start. Amy told us, “When I found Max, he was just a little yellow baby chick, all alone in the world. I was going through a difficult time in my life and felt as if I was all alone in the world. We found each other at exactly the right time. I needed him as much as he needed me. I was in love with him at first sight and we bonded with each other immediately. I didn’t have a clue that this tiny bird would make such a huge impact in my life for the next 6 years and 11 months.
“The first few months of his life he wanted to be with me constantly, and he followed me everywhere. He loved affection and attention. We did everything together. If I went to the store, he came with me. If I took the dog for a walk, he followed us. The girls at Starbucks loved him, and he was a regular at the drive-thru window on the weekends. He loved his car rides. I’d take him to visit with elderly neighbors during the day, and sometimes the neighborhood kids would stop by after school to hang out with him. He was very charismatic. People were drawn to him. Most people, before meeting him, had never interacted with a rooster and wanted to pet him and feel his crown. I really enjoyed watching their faces when they realized what an awesome companion he was.
“Through his adult years, he taught me about his life. I learned how he communicated with other chickens and how he expressed fear, love, anger, contentment, and joy through a vast array of vocalizations and inflections. I knew when he was telling me that a dangerous predator was close and if someone he didn’t like was close to me. He always looked out for me and wanted to protect me.”
When Amy was faced with an unexpected life change and had to leave the area, she wasn’t able to take her best friend with her. She brought him to us for safe-keeping, and that’s when we got to meet Max for the first time. He captured our hearts, just like he had captured Amy’s and soon became our shelter mascot. Amy ultimately returned to Key West and her bond with Max was instantly renewed. When she came to the shelter for the first time, he remembered his old friend like it was yesterday and instantly snuggled in her arms. Good friends don’t forget each other! Unfortunately, housing restrictions prevented Amy from taking Max home, but her love and loyalty to him brought her to the shelter every day. We would see them sit together for hours, simply enjoying each other’s company. If this wasn’t friendship in the deepest sense, what is?
Amy said of Max: “He taught me about life. He gave me passage into a new secret world. I started to see and hear insects and wildlife all around me that I had never paid attention to before. He taught me to be fully conscious and to live in the moment when we were together. I cherish those days and that time I got to spend with him. I know he loved me, and I know he knew that I loved him. My happiest times were sitting with him and being fully present in quiet, blissful solitude, enjoying the gift of his life.”
Losing Max has been hard on Amy. When we lose a good friend, the world feels a little emptier and a little lonelier. But hopefully, what Max and Amy taught others is that opening your heart to friendship with an animal can be life-changing and rewarding in a profound way! RIP Max.
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