For a large part of my childhood we lived with my grandmother and she really didn’t want cats or dogs in the house. Smaller animals, though, proved to be okay, and being a Gen X kid who discovered the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Heroes in a half shell! Donatello rules!), I had several pet turtles while growing up. They were quiet, easy to feed, and at one time I had three or four tanks. Of course, now I know turtles require a lot more care than I was giving them in terms of heat lights, and while I am saddened I didn’t know back then what I know now, I am so very thankful for the turtles who shared my life and provided so much company to a very sad and bullied kid.
Guinea pigs were another favorite, and I had gerbils. My mom knew the animal control officer in the neighboring college town, and so when some college students thought to toss their gerbil out a window with a parachute (until he got stuck in a tree), I gave the gerbil a good home and enriching environment for the remainder of his days. (Poor little guy had a broken tail from his ordeal.)
I think of this because of my writing with animal companions. My fantasy could be classified in the cozy fantasy genre, and to me, it just isn’t cozy if you don’t have some animal companion keeping you company and offering quasi-snarky commentary on your life. Just ask my cats!
I can’t imagine my life without several animal companions, and really, at this point in my writing career, I can’t imagine my stories without them either.
