Animal Writings

Exemplified here: http://birdloversonly.blogspot.com/2007/09/may-i-have-this-dance.html

Ordinarily, I'm ambivalent about promoting "pet videos." I'm reluctant to give the impression that I think animals should be valued in any way by the entertainment we get from watching them, and I also want to guard against the idea of getting animals to do things that people find entertaining—I don't like where that leads.

But I like this video for a few reasons:

• It's from a bird rescue and adoption site.


• I just love the pure joy emanating from this little guy.


• I am impressed with his impeccable sense of timing. Is it not interesting how this nonhuman individual has such a good sense of the downbeat?


• Expressions like dancing let nonhumans show off their creative side. I have a number of problems with intelligence tests, even when done on humans. One is that they don't measure things like creativity, sense of humor, ability to pick up emotional cues, and so forth. Perhaps the tests reflect the limitations and comfort zones of the test designers and/or administrators.


• Music is such a joyful, fascinating, universal language. Birds and humans each grow up hearing a heartbeat, the wind, the sounds of nature. Our brains—maybe our whole bodies—take in all these sounds and we form a musical sense. Can birds and other nonhumans tell when something's a bit out of tune? Do they feel melancholy when they hear minor chords? Does rock and roll loosen inhibitions?


• Last but not least: You gotta admit, this guy is super cute. So much so that I'll overlook the fact that he's into the Back Street Boys.

Another thing that this video shows is that you don't have to train a companion animal to do tricks. Give them a stimulating (but not over-stimulating), accommodating, safe, secure environment and they'll figure out their own tricks. And those should be much more rewarding for both the animals and their humans.

I also wonder...since both animals and humans like to sing and dance and engage in other creative pursuits, do they enjoy doing that together? I've "danced" with my cat. Although he prefers opera (and I'm not kidding), sometimes I put on one of my favorite tunes—"Box of Rain" by the Grateful Dead, pick up kitty, and dance around the room, and I could swear by his body language that he enjoys it. Yes, he likes being carried anyway, but he seems to like this even more. When the song's over and I put him down, that tail is high in the air and he often gives me a nose-kiss. Maybe he's not a dead-head and he's just picking up on my enjoyment, but that's still something. (No, there, will not be a video of this.)

(P.S. I love the bow at the end! Bravo!)

Labels: birds, cats, companion animals, creativity, music