Cosmo came from humble begins. He and his brother and sister were hatched naturally by their parents in Middleton, Idaho at an emu farm. Destined to be killed for their meat and feathers I rescued the three chicks in June of 2005. (Here I am pictured holding baby Cosmo).

Cosmo, Ernie, and Napoleon in the early days: For the first few months these three were extremely skittish and shy of humans. It would not be until they reached adulthood that they would finally tolerate me!

Bottom line: Emus love water. Cosmo was not an exception! During the hot summer sun I would be constantly outside hosing him and the others off. Cosmo loved to lie on his side and kick his enormous feet in the air!

Here is what a soaked emu looks like! You can only imagine how good it felt in 100 degree heat! Emus are native to Australia and can withstand extreme temperatures from below zero to over 100 degrees.

"If there is a heaven, it's certain our animals are to be there. Their lives become so interwoven with our own, it would take more than an archangel to detangle them."  - - Pam Brown