At dawn, the songs of birds summon us to greet the day with HOPE.
A blind man buckles the harness on his Guide Dog and strides out the door with CONFIDENCE.
A hunter at the edge of an African jungle spies an antelope with GRATITUDE. His family will eat today.
A lonely child hugs her dog as he licks away her tears and feels COMFORT.
A marine scientist cuts a dolphin tangled in netting free and sees a look of UNDERSTANDING in his eyes.
Citizens hearing of mistreated animals feel COMPASSION and rally together to stop the abuse.
These are just a few of the ways the animal kingdom affects our moods. From inspiring AWE with their beauty and strength to fostering LOVE, animals are as much a part of this earth as we are. To ignore them, to exploit them, or to misunderstand their bonds with us is to lose out on a huge part of life. Animals can be our inspiration, our companions, and our models for loyalty, forgiveness, and play. Animals can also inspire FEAR and remind us that our physical strength pales in comparison to theirs. But animals can also HUMBLE us with their willingness to serve and even sacrifice their lives for ours.
It has long been known that domestic animals dogs, cats, horses, birds, rabbits, etc can relax us. Blood pressure and heart rates lower when we are petting an animal. Sense of purpose increases when we care for animals. Companionship and JOY multiply in the presence of animals we love and who love us. People with pets live longer, feel better, and exercise more.
Pets DELIGHT us with their antics. They COMFORT us; they GREET us and PROTECT us. They make us feel whole. A house with one human and a pet or two is a family not a lonely place. Perceptive animals know how to change our moods by their behavior. If it's silliness we need after a bad day, they provide it. If it's snuggling we need after a disappointment, they're all too happy to give that, too. If we need to be reminded that there is more to life than just ourselves, their barks or meows for dinner will do just that.
It isn't just pets that affect our moods. The farmer who milks his cows at 4 a.m. also talks to them and pats them on the rump. They provide his livelihood. They give him security. The farmer in China who plows with an ox has a work partner and while theirs may be a silent communication, the farmer depends upon the animal's strength and cooperation to survive. The zoologist studying rare monkeys in South America gains a new sense of wonder from the similarities in social behavior among all primates. The laboratory scientist teaching a Gorilla to read finds himself awed at the possibility of communication between species. The mountain climber who watches a Bald Eagle soar above him rejoices in sharing the beauty of the planet.
And even though animals once called savage beasts still rip other animals to shreds for their food, they also inspire us with their occasional willingness to befriend those who are not like them. In this time of global insecurity, we all receive emails of an elephant who is friends with a dog; of a dog who nursed baby tigers or pigs; of a lion and a gazelle who became friends; of a polar bear who plays with Huskies and even of a mouse who rides on the back of a pet cat. The lesson is simple if they can get along; why can't we?
So in addition to influencing our moods, animals also make us think. They make us consider our role on this planet and the possibility of greater respect and interaction with our fellow creatures. Animals tell us every day that we are not alone and that in itself is a joyous thing.