Farm Pets

Pets on the farm were usually more that just there for our enjoyment. They were also a necessary part of life on the farm.

This is Melodie with some of the cats. The children spent lots of time here, especially when there were kittens.

Our cats usually lived in the barn ( we didn't always have them). They really helped with rodent control and we surely noticed it when they weren't there. They always had lots of fresh milk at chore time when we milked cows.

Dogs were and important part of the farm. We had one and sometimes two dogs most of the time. They kept predators at bay and guarded the farm. They helped move cattle or herd them when they got in trouble.

A few fogs stand out in my memory. One pup slept on top of the pigs at night in the barn in winter to keep warm. George found him like that when he went to the barn in the morning.

The most memorable one was Laddie, a pure breed Scotch Collie. He had a personality all his own. One example of this was in the way he chased the cows. Whereas most dogs chased the cows from behind and nipped heals very often, Laddie would bark a their heads until they were mad at him and chased him. Then he would run the way the cows were suppose to go.

He was particularly attached to Melodie and missed her a lot when she left home. When she came home he was so excited, you'd think he was talking to her telling here how much he missed her.

At times we had horses for riding, etc.

Here is Mel riding a pony we boarded for a while. The y were a help in getting the milk cows or checking the cattle.

One year while the boys were coon hunting the friends they brought home a baby coon for a pet. Barry kept it until Melodie forgot to close the latch on the cage and it got away.

Doing chores could get boring sometimes, so here Barry is trying to ride one of the calves.

These animals brought lots of enjoyment to the family. God blessed us again and again with these little things that were actually such a big part of our lives.