Elephants

Elephants, aside from being gigantic, are smart creatures living in herds with a matriarch at the helm that is directly related to each member of the group.  When young males reach the age of maturity, they are asked to leave the fold and join the other bachelors.  One of the attributes of an elephant is long-term memory enabling them to find water at the end of the same trails used for centuries by their ancestors. Sometimes, as is the case of my elephant, they use gimmicks such as tying balloons on their trunks to remember a birthday. If you are thinking about having an elephant join your family unit you will need a sizable yard with tons of water, preferably a lake, because they love water and are outstanding swimmers.  At the very least, you will need to get a mud pit for them to roll in. They sleep while standing, usually crossing one leg behind the other, so there is no need to run out and buy a bed.  The only disadvantage of having an elephant as a family pet is the shoveling of eighty pounds of poop a day.