When I asked folks to tell me what makes them feel good, a huge percentage told me all about their pets. I’ve been around pet and non-pet people all my life, and I’ve noticed that they all have something surprising in common.
Humans like it when animals show them affection.
Whenever I go to the zoo, I stare through the glass at the animals in the exhibits, wishing as hard as I can that one will make eye contact with me, notice me. I wonder what they're thinking about, and what we look like to them outside the glass. Most importantly, I wonder if they like me.
Now, everyone might not be as wacky as I am about animals, but I’m willing to bet that you get a few butterflies in your stomach when a gorilla waltzes right up to the glass in front of you and stares. Have you ever tapped fish tank, hoping the fish will notice and follow your finger across the glass? Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about.
It goes without saying that us animals lovers adore when our furry friends cuddle with us.
Humans are complicated, animals’ needs are physiological.
Animals rely on us to be fed, protected by shelter, and socialized. These core requirements are all they need to be happy and healthy. Considering Maslow's hierarchy of needs, animals only need the basics: food, water, warmth, rest, security and safety. No need to worry about intimate relationships, esteem needs, or self-actualization.
No emotional baggage (usually), no verbal arguments. Their bouts with puberty and rebellion last maybe months, whereas human "phases" last years. If you don't buy them a Christmas or Birthday present, they won't feel neglected. The list goes on. It takes very little work, compared to taking care of a human, to feel like you have a made a real difference in the life of an animal. We humans get that coveted "I'm a good person" feeling without having to do much.
Animals can’t talk.
Although animals undoubtedly have their own version of language, thank goodness we humans can’t understand it. The fact that animals cannot speak makes living with them irresistibly simple. No arguments, snarky comments, sexual innuendos, opinions, or annoying banter. We have no idea what they are actually thinking, which makes us assume that that they are thinking what we want them to be thinking… I think.
Fur is pleasing to touch.
Who doesn’t love furry things? I know, not all animals are furry, but those that have fur are often the most desirable. I’d like to think that this dates back to ancient times, when human tribes needed fur to survive and keep them warm. Just a hunch.
Animals don’t live very long.
This one is a little morbid, but still so true. Humans often spring for buying or rescuing a pet long before they consider having children, and I believe it is because the commitment is shorter and less complicated. Animals have a comparatively short time on this earth (unless you're a parrot or sea turtle), and humans want to make every moment worthwhile.
Reasons 1 & 3 resonate the most. In the movie Sleepers there's a great line in which an old man is feeding the pigeons, and someone asks him why he does it. He says: "I like anything that don't talk."
ReplyDeletePersonally, one thing I like about animals (especially wild animals) is they don't do anything half-assed. When a dog is eating, it's like it's the best meal he's ever eaten, etc. They are pure spirit and will, and have no use for pretense.