Learned from People

My animals answer the question, “What have you learned from people?”

Stormy, my Aussie dog, says, “I have learned that people have kinder hearts inside of them than they show to the rest of the world. I have learned that people sometimes talk too fast and listen not enough. I have learned that people get tired when they don’t feel like people understand them.”

My cat Makia says, “I have learned that in order to get a person to understand me I have to walk around them looking at them until they notice that I am trying to say something. Most people do not listen with their eyes or with their heart. They listen with their brain. This is a problem because only some of what they hear is the truth. People tend to put their own emotions to someone else’s words. They usually hear me well because I am very clear about what I want and most people who are around me care about the truth.”

My cat Serafina says, “I have learned that people will do many amazing things for animals. They will make sure animals are safe and that animals have the best veterinary care. I listen all the time to my mom on the radio and on the phone, and when she talks to people, I notice that these people care about their animals with all their being. This is wonderful for me to experience because I was once not cared for. It is okay; I am cared for now.”

Luca, my poodle, says, “I have learned that people mostly like dogs and want to pet me. Most people think I am soft. People do not play like dogs do. People play on the computer. They play with balls too but they don’t fetch. People want animals to eat good food; I like some kinds of food but not much food. People all smell different, and I have learned that this is not bad.”

Bean, my bunny, says, “I have learned that if a person knows I get three treats, many people will give me four. I have learned that when it comes to animals, people like to share their knowledge and help others. I have learned that people don’t always know how to use their eyes around animals. Knowing this has been better for me because now I don’t judge people by the way they look at me.”

Mr. Squirrely says, “I have learned that some people will shoot you with a BB gun if you go close to their bird feeder, and other people will make sure that the bird feeder is full and the water is accessible for squirrels. I don’t know why some people like birds but not squirrels. Squirrels are just as social. I have learned that some people sleep like squirrels as soon as it is nighttime, but others stay up very late. That is not like a squirrel.”

Chitta, the horse, says, “I have learned that it is in the person’s eyes and the person’s shoulders that they carry their anger. If a person’s eye shifts and their shoulders rise a horse needs to be careful or they will may get hurt. I have learned that some people are more patient around horses than others and that some people try harder than others to understand the horse. I have learned that if I focus on the kindness in people I will see more kindness in the world.”