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A Spiritually Enlightening Online Magazine. November's Theme: "Gifts" Usually, when we think of "gifts," we think of Christmas or birthday presents, tangible items that we can put our hands on. Animals are, in a way, a "gift" to us in the physical realm. According to the Bible, animals were "given" to humanity. We were to be stewards of the animals and other resources of the earth—not to misuse, abuse, exploit, or squander; but to respect and treasure. The Qur'an instructs Muslims to treat animals with compassion, and not to abuse them. Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains are exhoted to practice "ahimsa"—to do no harm or violence to any creature.
Unfortunately, we humans have not done too well with these responsibilities. Nevertheless, animals continue to provide humanity with food, clothing, and "entertainment," though mostly not by choice.
On an individual level, companion animals choose and continue to gift us with their love—even when we don't seem to deserve it!
But there's a different sense of "gifts" that seems more appropriate when we talk about animals. Author Henry Beston said it best:
"We need another and a wiser and perhaps a more mystical concept of animals… For the animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours, they move finished and complete, gifted with the extension of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings: they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendour and travail of the earth." ~ Henry Beston, "The Outermost House," 1928.
Animals do have many gifts of their own. They are perfectly suited to the environment and lifestyle (the "niche") in which they evolved.
For instance, we all know that many animals have a wider range of hearing and more acute sense of smell than we do. The cat has twice as many olfactory (smell-sensing) cells as we humans do, but some dog breeds have nearly 200 times as many. The lower limit of the dog's hearing range is similar to that of humans, but cats can hear even lower sounds; dogs' upper range is twice that of humans, and cats' upper limit is three times higher than ours. This makes sense when you consider that small prey animals such as rodents emit very high-pitched sounds, well outside our hearing range, but perfectly clear to cats.
But it's the more unusual senses that are the special gifts of pets.
Biologist Rupert Sheldrake has explored psychic phenomena in animals, including dogs that "know" when their guardians are on their way home, and how so many animals escaped the 2004 Asian tsunami by moving to higher ground hours before the waves struck.
Most pet guardians have stories of times when their pet "knew" they were sick, or depressed, or injured, and provided unusual love and comfort. For instance, a normally high-energy dog may stay cuddled up quietly for hours. Cats are well-known for their healing abilities; they will often lay on or near a sick person or an injured part to help it mend. Last year when I broke my ankle, there always seemed to be a cat snoozing next to or even laying across my ankles. Since it healed, they're rarely in that spot.
Dogs have been known to sniff out cancer in their guardians. While it's not so far-fetched to think that cancerous cells may give off a distinct, detectable odour, it's the dog's persistent sniffing and unusually anxious behaviour that warns of a serious problem. When the cancer is removed, the dog will ignore the spot, and behave normally.
Cats, dogs, and horses also serve as therapy animals. Dogs and cats are often taken to hospitals and nursing homes to cheer up the residents. These animals treat different people in different ways—they "know" that this person wants to play, while that one just wants a furry head on his knee or a gentle, loving paw to touch.
In therapeutic riding, children and adults with injuries or disabilities are put up on a horse, which is slowly led around the ring by one volunteer, while two others serve as side-walkers to steady the rider. The rhythmic motion of the horse trains the rider's brain and muscles to improve balance and coordination; and having "control" over a 1000-pound animal builds self-confidence.
Of course, not all animals are suited for these sensitive jobs. But those that pass the screenings and work with special-needs humans are indeed "gifted" in a remarkable way!
I think we all recognize that our own pets are gifts within our own lives. They are truly "the gift that keeps on giving"—they constantly give us joy, love, laughter, comfort, and peace. For some, pets are a reason to get up in the morning; a reason to keep going.
Humans excel at taking, but we're not always so good at giving. Fear sometimes prevents us from understanding that the universe is a fair and abundant place, and we can all give limitlessly, secure in the knowledge that there is enough for everyone, and another's good does not diminish but rather enriches us. So how can we give back to our pets who give everything of themselves to us?
Dr. Michael Fox outlines "four pillars" of humane treatment of animals:
These four principles should guide our relationship with our own pets. For instance, never get a puppy from a pet store, because it certainly comes from a puppy mill—a sordid and cruel industry that we should never support with our dollars. The same applies to pets from newspaper or online ads. Right nutrition includes a natural diet, with an emphasis on fresh foods the way Nature intended for animals to eat—not cheap kibble from the discount or grocery store! Right environment involves keeping the litterbox clean or the yard picked up, with a safe, comfortable place to sleep. Right understanding of our pets' emotional and behavioural needs will prevent or resolve nearly all behaviour issues.
On top of providing these basic needs, what our pets want and need the most, of course, is love. Because they are such loving beings, this is an easy task—to keep an open heart, and show love and compassion to our pets. If we do this in a conscious way, it will enable us to expand our circle of compassion to encompass all beings—and by doing so we raise the consciousness of the entire planet.
So give the gift of love—to your pets, your family, your friends—and know that you are doing a wonderful thing for yourself and for all of us!
I'll leave you this time with a Quaker hymn about Gifts:
"'Tis the gift to be simple,
'tis the gift to be free,
'tis the gift to come down where you ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
It will be in the valley of love and delight."
Dr. Jean Hofve recently retired from holistic veterinary practice, but still writes and consults on holistic health and nutrition. She recently co-authored "The Complete Guide to Holistic Cat Care" with nutritionist Dr. Celeste Yarnall. She is a Medicine Woman of the Mountain Wind Lodge Nemenhah Band and Native American Traditional Organization (Oklevueha Native American Church of Sanpete). She founded SpiritEssence in 1995, which remains the only line of essence formulas for animals created by a veterinarian. For more information on pet health, nutrition, and behaviour, please visit the free article library at www.littlebigcat.com.
Volume 8 Issue 1 ISSN# 1708-3265
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