Mundi, a 41-year-old female elephant, was orphaned (使……成为孤儿) at a young age, captured, and sold to the Mayaguez Zoo in Puerto Rico. The animals housed at the zoo were in such bad shape that they were being moved to various shelters under an order from the US Department of Justice.

Mundi was the zoo’s major attraction. Her departure caused so much argument that armed guards came to see her off the island. She was so popular that people lined the streets to say goodbye.

Mundi’s new home is certainly beautiful. After living in the zoo for 35 years with no other elephants, Mundi met Bo and Tarra, with whom she’s now sharing 850 acres. She was first housed in a separate place, but she and the other elephants could see each other, and they started getting along quickly. Soon, Mundi was no longer separated from the others. Tarra immediately acted as a big sister and mentor to Mundi, while Bo became her playmate. Now, they spend a lot of time together and the public can watch their interaction and learn about their behaviors on the shelter’s official website.

Carol Buckley, the founder of Elephant Aid International, first imagined setting up the Georgia shelter after meeting Tarra in 1974, when the elephant was less than a year old. At the time, Tarra belonged to the owner of a tire store, who used her to advertise the place.

Buckley ultimately became an advocate for elephants worldwide and designed the retirement home in Attapulgus to address their needs. Attapulgus was selected as the location for the shelter because its climate allows the elephants to be outdoors most of the time, almost year-round.

Americans love their pets. They consider them part of the family. Sometimes people spend hundreds of dollars buying animals from pet stores. Many of these dogs and cats are fine, but some are not healthy.

The best way to find a healthy pet is to visit the Humane Society in your area. There are millions of wonderful animals looking for homes, and most have been checked over by vets. The people at the Humane Society will ask some questions to make sure their animal is going to a home that is safe, healthy and loving. They may ask if you have children or other animals, and how those animals might relate to a new friend. They may also ask if you will keep the animal inside or outside.

When adopting, don’t forget that in future there will be vet bills. Kittens and puppies need their shots and check-ups, just like children. Of course, as your pet ages, it may have medical problems.

As far as visiting the vet, your pet probably won’t enjoy the trip, so make it as stress-free as possible. Pick a vet who is gentle and caring. Ask your friends for suggestions. Ask your vet how much money each procedure will cost so you won't get an unwelcome surprise when you see the bill. And decide how far you are willing to go to save your pet if it gets really sick. When you get home from the vet’s, be sure to give your pet a little treat to show it how well it behaved and how proud you ae of it.

Having a pet is one of life's greatest pleasures. The way to spend the most quality time with them is to make sure they are healthy and happy at the start. Enjoy!