5 Things That Make Animals Thankful

by Stephanie Feldstein · 2009-11-26 06:00:00 UTC
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If the non-humans of the world were to get together and try to agree on what makes them thankful, I think they might come up with a Top 5 list something like this:

5) Sticks. Nature's dog toy. Primate eating utensils. And they can be everything a home needs from bedding to insulation to shelter (and all with assembly instructions easy enough to make Ikea jealous). Some species are indifferent to the versatile bits of wood, but I can't think of any that hate sticks.

4) Behaviorists. These scientists who spend thousands of hours out in the wild or staring at tedious video footage waiting for something significant to happen have changed the way humans interact with animals.  They've brought us an understanding of what animals need, and want, that's informed everything from conservation efforts to better barns and shelters. Thanks to them, we've progressed from flat sanctuary cages to habitat enclosures, from choke chains to reward-based training.

3) Vegetarians. I think everyone would agree that they'd rather not be eaten.

2) Children. For domestic animals, kids are playmates and sources of delicious dropped food. For wild animals, they're the hope that the next generation will set things right. Also, there's common ground between mammals when it comes to caring for the young.

1) The Internet. The way information flies around the world has changed the game in favor of animal welfare. It's harder for people to get away with inhumane treatment -- they may have the political clout to continue cruel practices like factory farming and animal testing, but there's a lot more pressure with people around the world knowing what they're up to. When animals are in danger from a pet food recall, or in need from a large scale rescue or natural disaster, word spreads quickly and lives are saved. If only they had paw-sized keyboards and their own credit cards, they'd love it even more.

Photo credit: Photos8.com

Stephanie Feldstein is a Change.org Editor who has been part of the animal welfare and rescue community for over a decade, and most recently worked for an environmental organization.
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