“Petunia” Storyline

“As a child growing up in Arizona, I heard many intriguing stories about people who kept javelinas as pets.  One such story that stands out in my mind is about a gentleman in Cave Creek who had two pet javelinas that lived under his house.  One of the javelinas would love to lay on the man’s lap and be petted and scratched like a dog.  If truth be told, these one-of-a-kind critters with so much character are one of my favorite wild animals.  

 I was so excited to get a phone call from the director of Adobe Wildlife Rehab informing me that they had received a 3-month-old imprinted pet javelina.  Finally, after all these years I was going to see for myself how supposedly affectionate they are.  When I went into her enclosure instantly greeted me making a puttering no8ise rolled over on her back and wanted me to scratcher her belly.  While I scratched, she would move her rear leg like a tickled dog and simultaneously stick her little pink tongue out.  It was love at first sight!  The friendship that I developed during the time of sculpting her turned out to be the goal I set to capture in the sculpture.  When the director of Adobe witnessed our relationship, I was given the honor of naming my little friend, which became “Petunia”.  I think of her often and hope she is in Hog Heaven!”        

   - Ken Rowe

Explore Ken Rowe Sculpture