Animal Interactions

Bugs Bunny once had a wild gorilla chasing him around. Being a resourceful rabbit, he pulled out a music box and started playing music. Even at the first note, the gorilla stopped in his tracks and was calm.

Music has been known to soothe animals and humans alike. We might not understand the relationship between music and animals, but we use it as a tool to help.

I have a love of cats. The playful tactics and soft fur of a kitten or cat are soothing as well. Having a cat lay on your lap while it sleeps has a calming effect. Nursing homes sometimes bring in cats for residents. For the residents, it brightens a normally humdrum day. While there are not conclusive studies, some will say this relationship between cats and humans can extend a person’s life span.

Owners of dogs will also say they feel more relaxed when playing with their pet. I had a puppy named Patches that would always bring a smile to my face. Or at least get it wet with one lick of his tongue.

Dogs are also good service animals for people who use wheelchairs for mobility. More recently they have been getting trained to help children with Autism. They’re training allows them to help desensitize a child in certain situations and also alert adults if the child is going outside of a given area like a yard or park.

Many movies have been made on the relationship between human and animal. “Old Yeller”; “Call Of The Wild”; “Mouse Hunt”; “Air Bud”; “Mr. Ed” and “Free Willy” are all examples of Hollywood’s magic. In “Free Willy”, we see a kid placed in yet another foster home. Until he meets Willy, he doesn’t have anything in his life that means much. The two learn to trust each other. A bond between human and animal is once again formed.

Down in Florida they have been experimenting with another type of relationship. When they’re not jumping, flipping or playing with a ball, the dolphins at Mexico City’s Aragon Aquarium snuggle with children suffering from disorders such as autism, down syndrome and movement disorders. During the therapy a dolphin will get behind a child’s head and chirp for a few seconds. The aim is for a doctor identify what part of the brain is damaged. Then the trainer sends the dolphin to that area to chirp.

Sometimes the dolphins refuse to go to the specified area and go to a different part of the brain and chirp. Every time that has happened, further tests revealed the doctor’s diagnosis wrong. The directors — and many of its clients — say for reasons they can’t explain, it seems to work. Whether you want to call it a miracle, fluke or just luck, the dolphin’s interaction with children with disabilities amplifies the bond humans have with animals. There are certain things that are probably better left unexplained.

If you don’t have a pet and want to experience what I’ve been talking about, your local animal shelter can help out. They can help you find a new member of the family that is just waiting to go home with you. A music box is optional.