By Barbara Morris
When speaking about animals, some people refer to their pets as their babies, members of the family or, sometimes, their bosses. On the other hand, there are those who are unmoved even by the most pathetic animal tragedy and say, “They are ‘just animals.’”
Almost everyone has some opinion about them. Most who really know a lot about animals fall into the first category. I am one of those people who has been fortunate enough to have had pets of various species and studied the traits and talents of each.
All were special and all were completely honest, which is more than I can say about many members of the human race. We hear case after case where someone will feign friendship or honest authority only to establish a basis for identity theft or other crime.
Even when caught red-handed, they will sometimes try to tough out the situation by claiming they hadn’t intended to hurt anyone, didn’t realize they were doing something illegal or were misunderstood. If, however, you approach a dog, you will not have to guess the dog’s intent. Even if that animal has been friendly outside of the property that is “home,” be cautious once the boundary line is crossed.
At one time, we had a neighbor who let his dog loose every morning. He was a big, handsome, friendly Labrador. He would run from house to house, getting his solitary exercise, taking care of whatever else he was inspired to do, and would then go back home and bark to be let in.
One day he didn’t return home before his family left for work. Later that morning, I noticed him sitting outside their closed gate. As I approached, he stood up, wagged his tail and ran to greet me. We were well-acquainted and he responded to my pats with welcomed wet kisses.
Since I didn’t want him to stay loose and maybe get hurt or in trouble during the remainder of the day, I gently led him by the collar to the gate, steered him behind the fence and closed the gate. All went well until I decided to give him a reassuring pat before I went back home.
He put his front feet on the top of the fence and looked me in the eyes as he rolled back his lips, showing me some handsome, big teeth. He was letting me know he was now “on duty” protecting his family’s property.
Such devotion must be respected, but leaving a dog roaming loose (even inside a gated area) for an entire day is not a good idea. There is the risk that some unsuspecting service person, such as the letter carrier, will get hurt or scared. There also is the chance that that adult, or even a child, will unintentionally release the dog when the gate is opened.
It is neither fair to the person nor to the animal. Pets are well worth the responsibility. Healthy pets provide a family with affection, laughter and a certain kind of stability that can’t be found elsewhere.
For instance, human family members may have a disagreement, but even before they really intend to forgive and forget, if the family pet does something cute or disarming everyone is distracted from the conflict. They not only praise the pet, but recognize to each other that they are lucky to have such an impartial friend to change the subject.
Pets often participate in programs that ease the loneliness of those in nursing homes, hospitals and, sometimes, prisons. Those who have had the opportunity to witness any mother animal with her young have no doubt that “Mom” has the ability to communicate to her young what she wants them to do — and to make them do it.
A baby duck that hesitates too long to jump off the bank of a lake into the water gets a parent’s bill under his tail and in he goes, to the delight of all concerned. Likewise, a mother horse or deer knows exactly when to force a newborn to its feet.
A mother cat will let each kitten, separately and in turn, know which one is to come to her. Like other “Moms,” she will not only feed and clean them, but she will teach them to eventually fend for themselves, either within a loving home or outside; and show them how to play, usually starting with her tail.
Each the earth’s species deserves to be appreciated for whatever positives are provided and should not be hurt unnecessarily. I have long been against some of the cruel, often misleading, tests performed on animals. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals doesn’t always do everything right, but basically I think they have validity. Animals need friends.
