Imagine walking into a giant mansion and seeing a monkey wearing clothes, a turkey strolling down the hall, and donkeys chilling inside an empty swimming pool! This was not a cartoon. It was real life at Graceland, the famous home of Elvis Presley.
Everyone knows Elvis could sing and dance, but he had another huge passion. He loved animals so much that he turned his home into a wild, noisy zoo.
The most famous and chaotic animal in the King’s crew was a chimpanzee named Scatter. Elvis bought him in 1961, and the two quickly became best friends. Scatter lived inside the house like a human roommate. He wore little outfits, sat in director’s chairs on movie sets, and loved to cause mischief.
Sadly, Scatter had a very wild side. He would tear up curtains, knock over drinks, and scare house guests. Eventually, he became a bit too rowdy to handle, but he remains the most talked-about pet in rock history.
Presley Pets!
Later on, fans even gave Elvis a sweet little squirrel monkey named Bambi, who was much better behaved! People close to Elvis used to say:
“Elvis had a huge heart for animals. If it barked, mooed, or trotted, it had a home at Graceland.”
When Elvis wanted some peace away from the crazy monkeys, he went to visit his horses. He owned about 18 of them! His absolute favorite was a beautiful, golden horse named Rising Sun.
Old Shep – Elvis Presley
Elvis loved to take care of him personally. He also bought a beautiful black horse named Domino for his wife, Priscilla. The two loved to go on romantic rides around the property together.
Elvis was also a major dog lover. He had giant Great Danes, fluffy Poodles, and a sweet Basset Hound named Sherlock. His deep love for dogs was something he even shared with the world through his music. He recorded a super famous, sad song called “Old Shep.” It is a touching story about a boy and his very best friend—his loyal old dog. When fans listen to that song, they can truly feel how much Elvis cared for his furry friends.
From colorful peacocks that roamed the grass to a talking bird that copied the maids, Elvis lived surrounded by love and paws. He treated every single animal like a member of his own family.