About Me
My name is Courtney Clerico and I have a life long love for animals. I have learned a great deal from the many different pets I have had throughout my years. All the experienced I have had in the past has led to where I am now; fostering and caring for animals in need.
When I was born, my mother had a Rhodesian Ridgeback named Adoma that she had trained since Adoma was a puppy. I was lucky to spend my first years with Adoma, until she passed away when I was four. It was my first experience with death and I still remember how confused and hurt I was until this day. I remember her giving me one last kiss on the cheek before she left this world for a better one.
After Adoma died, we didn’t have any animals in the house. I spent my days obsessing over marine mammals, my favorite being the bottlenose dolphin. I felt a deep connection with sea animals and I was convinced I would grow up to be a marine biologist.
When I was just about to turn seven, my brother and I were outside messing around on the play gym. Out of no where came a gray cat meowing noisily at us. I yelled for my mother to come out immediately. She told us not to pet it because he would keep coming around. Little did I know how much my mother disliked cats.
The russian blue kitty continued to come around, and I continued to pet and love on him. I used to sit out on the back patio during the cold autumn evenings, leaning against the sliding glass door with the cat in my lap. I would stay with him to keep him warm until I got in trouble for being late for dinner.
One night my mother went out shopping for groceries and the kitty came around. My dad, being a sucker for cats, decided it was time to feed the homeless cat. We coaxed the cat into our family room with some turkey lunch meat. It was pretty much all over.
Later to be named Six-Dinner-Sid (from eating at other peoples homes, named after a story book) the cat slowly took over our house. My mother was hesitant about him, until one day she found him in her bedroom, laying her pillow. Quickly after adopting Sid, he came home with an offal injury. I think it was his way of testing us. He was fine after a few months and was extremely happy to own the Clerico family.
One of my friends grandma’s was very involved with animals that needed care. She had found a dog running out by where she worked and was seeking a family to adopt her. When I was about eight, word got out to us, and my mom was ready for a home visit. Gracie, a terrier mix, came over to meet us and see our home. She fit in immediately and her foster mom decided to sign Gracie over to us. She was a medium sized, fluffy girl and very intelligent. I taught her to sit, to lay down, to shake, and to speak. It was my first time training an animal. She eventually would mock us, saying “I wuuvvv ruuuee”(I love you), and “I waaa mahh diinnneeraa”(I want my dinner). Unfortunately Gracie wasn’t with us for long; she passed after her first Christmas with us. I was completely heartbroken.