The Furry Factor – Transforming Pet Lovers into People Lovers One Animal at a Time

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One day years ago, my stepdaughter was angry with me for something like insisting she follow the house rules, and she spat out the accusation “You JUST Love RABBITS because they don’t talk back!” And I thought, well, that’s one reason, and your point is….??”

And I think of that every once in a while and laugh again; one because I don’t know what the heck her point was and she’s usually very articulate, and two because it’s not really true. Rabbits do talk back; with a flick of their feet you know you’ve irritated them (rabbit equivalent of a teen rolling her eyes and saying “it’s not fair”), with a thump, you’ve really irked them (“leave me alone”), with a misplaced poop they’re planning vengeance (“so how do you like that”), with private property destruction (NOTE: My black bunny chewed holes in the underwear and shorts I was wearing when I brought home and held the new bunny on my lap too long), you’re in for a lengthy, covert siege ( the rabbit version of the “F” bomb).

Don’t it make my brown eye blue

So with all sorts of horrible diseases claiming human lives, with all sorts of need among the human world, why do I offer part of my time and charitable funding to support animals? Because animals can’t speak on their own behalf. (Well, they try but many people don’t understand their language or listen.) I support animal causes to give all animals respect, a better quality of life, and freedom from fear, pain and hunger. And I support them because companion animals give love (or in some instances tolerance) in exchange for so little, really, some food, a safe place and an occasional rub on the nose.  People (including people I love) can regularly bring me to the brink of insanity (I’ve worked retail and tended bar so my first hand experience is vast). Animals on the other hand give me mental peace and undo the stresses I accumulate throughout the day.

Got stress? Bring on the beasts. I seek out my quiet, content-to-be-adored Great White Bunny (learn more about her here   https://brain4rent.wordpress.com/2011/08/03/needy-is-as-needy-does/ )      and pat her so long and often, I have to check to see if I’ve rubbed all her fur off. However, all told, in my relationships with animals, I make out on the deal.

“Stare into my eyes…you’re getting sleepy…give me treats….sleepy…give me treats…”

“Who Let The Dogs Out?”  So, for the first time I got up off my butt and at the last minute (okay it was on site, just 3 minutes before the walk started) registered to participate in the Walk for Animals with #Nevins Farm #MSPCA at the Spencer Peirce Little Farm in Newbury MA. In the beginning of the day, I never noticed any people. Friends, neighbors if you were there, sorry I didn’t say “hi” but I never looked above Newfie eye level til much later in the day. But as the walk progressed here’s what I figured out…. In the company of the animals they really love, a) all people are much more likeable, and b) people are much nicer to the humans around them.  And there you have two more reasons to support the animals.

Yes I can clean my nose with my tongue, but it’s a little heavy right now

“My Dogs Are Barking”  You can still donate to the walk,  even after the fact. Here is a link and maybe you could support the team I did “Small Animals Rock” but all pets and animals deserve a loving home, so take your pick of teams. Just FYI, this link conveniently goes directly to Small Animals page.   http://support.mspca.org/site/TR?fr_id=1430&pg=entry

The small furries (rabbits, guinea pigs, et al) hold a special spot in my heart so here is a link to another fine organization putting in herculean efforts to improve the lives of tragically thrown away bunnies. The House Rabbit Network. http://www.rabbitnetwork.org/

© 2012 by Alison Colby-Campbell