Why Animals Matter

Leader of the Pack and dog whisperer Ceasar Milan, has a wealth of understanding about dog psychology, some of which also applies to humans.  Why do we have pets?  They give unconditional love and give our lives a predictable routine and rhythm. 

But the pet world is a frontier of uncertainty evocative of the orphans in Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist.  Sometimes, we think of pets as not as good as humans.  Pets are not always respected.

There’s much to learn about ourselves from the nature of animals.  They make a fascinating study in group dynamics.  We can gain insights about our own emotions and cognitive functions, from those of other species.  Lakota people say “All my relations” as a way of describing knowing their place in what Elton John sang reference-to as The Circle of Life.  As humans we fit into a system of life, and the Bible says we are the stewards.  Noah was a steward in that first story about species preservation at God’s request.  Dominion and control over the natural world is sort of a technical job.  Its not just the ability to think of ways to keep a goat in the corral or a dog inside the fence—though it seems to be a great gift that we’re the most capable thinkers of all species (at least in some respects).  It is almost as if we have this intelligence because its our job to take care of the Earth.

There’s a Cherokee story that starts out like this:  “Way long ago, when the animals could talk and we could understand them….”  It reminds me that over the ages we have an ever-changing worldview, and when two ideas seem mutually exclusive then we choose one.  Cherokees didn’t have just a talking serpent.  Animals expressed their own nature and worldview in the things they say in Cherokee stories.  Artist Murv Jacob and storyteller Debbie Duvall understand that each species has its own nature and qualities.  Visit www.jacobandduvall.com ebooks to see.

Advice columnist Dear Abby said, "The best index to a person's character is (a) how he treats people who can't do him any good, and (b) how he treats people who can't fight back."  (I seem to think the original quote was from Golda Maier.)  Expand that principle to all creatures, and we can understand a metaphor for how valuable we are to the planet.

We can get through life without tuning into the connection with other creatures.  But we can be enriched from what we learn observing them, and we can better understand ourselves as sentient beings.  It helps us find our place in the scheme of things, while making the world a better place.

You’ve seen Sara McLachlan’s astounding commercial for humane treatment of animals.  Visit www.HumaneCherokeeCounty.org and you will be compelled by the complete little simple souls who are wishing for a human they can count on.  Its not that hard to have a pet, if you dedicate some time each day for your routine. 

There are also dozens of other ways to connect with the animal world.  Be a foster parent, by volunteering to help with exercise walks or feeding.  Recycle aluminum cans at Wal-mart parking lot, to help with costs.  

(This was submitted for publication in the past to The Current.  It is written by me, Kathy Tibbits.)