Socializing PEOPLE
Date: Fri, 01 Jan 1999 02:01:09 -0700 Subject: FEL-L: Saving them, by knowing them
This reminds me of someone who watched my little Sarah (bobcat) grow up over her first summer. I spent a lot of time at the beach and Sarah accompanied me from the time she was pulled from her 'cat mom' at ten days old. Sarah got to know all my friends and would run around the sand from blanket to blanket greeting everybody before settling on my blanket for her bottle and a nap. The first thing she would do when she woke up was run down to the river and pee in the water and then back to the blanket and mom. When mom went in the water, Sarah went too, and then climbed into my backpack to warm up and dry off. Everybody fell in love with Sarah. One man seemed to be especially taken with her. He always seemed to 'beam' when she ran to him and greeted him. At the end of the summer he came to me to 'confess a terrible sin' he had been keeping a secret. He felt that he had to tell me and apologize to me because knowing Sarah had made him feel so guilty. His wife assured me that he had really been struggling with his conscience the more he got to know Sarah, and how much intelligence she posessed and extent of the affection she showed toward her 'friends'.
The terrible secret: The man used to raise and train hounds to sell for hunting bobcats, and had been a bobcat hunter himself for years. Now he couldn't believe he could have even been capable of such a thing, knowing how special Sarah was, and that all the bobcats he had shot over the years must have been special in their own way too. He seemed very afraid to be telling Me this. It was as if he needed me, or maybe more importantly Sarah to forgive him. It was very touching that such a little ball of bobcat fur could have such a profound effect on someone else's life.
Date: Fri, 01 Jan 1999 02:04:11 -0700 Subject: Re: FEL-L: question regarding fur farms...
I heard a story, I think from Famous Amos (of cookie fame). He talked about seeing an old man walking along the sand very near the pounding surf. The man would bend over, pick up something, and pitch it out into the water. He did this again and again as he walked down the beach. Amos couldn't stand not knowing what the man was up to and felt compelled to get a closer look. As he walked toward the old man stooping over a shape in the sand, Amos could see that the old man was picking up clams that had been stranded when the tide had receded. He was Throwing them back into the ocean one by one, giving them a second chance at life. Amos didn't understand why the old man would waste his time and energy doing this. There were hundreds, possibly thousands, of clams. He could hardly make a dent in the number of clams on the beach. He approached the old man just as yet another clam flew into the ocean. "Why are you picking up these clams and throwing them into the ocean?" asked Amos. The old man looked at Amos somewhat confused that he couldn't plainly see what he was doing. "I'm throwing them back into the ocean to save their lives." the old man stated flatly. "I can see that", said Amos, "but what difference will it make if you toss a couple of dozen of these clams back into the ocean? There are thousands of them laying out here!"
The old man stooped over, picked up another clam, and plunked it into the next wave. He turned to Amos, and looked him straight in the eye. In a matter of fact tone the old man explains: "Well, I know I can't save 'em all, but what I just did was mighty important to THAT clam I just threw back in the water." With no further explanation, he sauntered off down the beach tossing clams into the water as he went.
Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1999 14:24:50 -0500 Subject: FEL-L: Saving them, by knowing them
We have had the same type of thing happen, more than once. One was a neighbor, who used hounds to hunt bear & cats. After being around our cats for a few years, he sold all his hounds & now only hunts with a camera. Another was a neighbor who said that she had a beautiful Lynx coat hanging in her closet & would never be able to wear it again, after getting to know our kitties. Another lady (well-educated & refined) ACTUALLY DID NOT KNOW that they had to KILL the animal, to get the fur. I'm not kidding!!!! She thought they could just shear them, like sheep. HONEST!!!!! People are always blown away, when I pick up Screamer (or Kiowa or Sheva) & they lay flat on their back, in my arms. They just can't believe that they are capable of such love & affection. We can't change the world overnight, but if we can touch, just a few people----WELL-it's a start.
Date: Sat, 2 Jan 1999 15:44:56 EST Subject: FEL-L: (no subject)
As a volunteer at JES all I can do with our cats is "talk to them" through their enclosures. Most of our's have been so badly abused that socialization like you have with your's is impossible for all but the owner, Jill, who is a "special" person to the cats.
One of my proudest and happiest times is when I give a tour to new members. The look of astonishment on the faces of the people when I get Penny (cougar) or Samantha (Leopard) to purr and they hear her deep rumble of contentment. "I didn't know big cats could purr!" is always the reaction I get. Or when Togar or Jona (both male lions) annoint me when I warn the new people about male lions turning around and lifting their tails! Almost on cue I get my weekly dose of "You belong to me".