This week, I thought I’d take a break from the usual foci: self, society, and philosophy. Most of my Challenges, being written by a human, for other humans, naturally tend to be human-focused. There have been a few exceptions – notably, requests to recycle, to get outside and experience your environment, and to embrace the world in all its filth – but for the most part, I talk about you and me and all the other homo sapiens out there.
Not this week. This time, think about another living creature outside of your species. Do something nice for a non-human animal.
That animal could be your pet, which still puts them inside your household but still somewhat separate from humanity. The animal could be the pet of a friend, family member, or other acquaintance, which places them slightly further outside your radius. Alternately, you could choose a farm animal: still ‘kept’ but less directly incorporated into a family. Perhaps, you might see what you can do for a zoo animal, a rescue animal at a sanctuary, or even a wild animal.
What you choose to ‘do’ will likely be influenced by your choice of recipient.
If we’re talking about a pet, you have a wide range of choices. You could give them a treat… but don’t you do that already? The same goes for regular feeding, petting, attention, toilet assistance (walks or litter or pads or whichever), and medical care. For a pet, your challenge is to do something extra nice, something you normally wouldn’t invest the time or expense into, to make your pet happy. Bake your dog a tasty (but pet-safe) cake. Set aside a full hour of playtime with your cat. Find a new cage-mate for your rat. Wrestle your ferret until they’re exhausted and take their nips with forgiveness.
Similar ideas work for someone else’s pet, although you’re already doing more than usual by just paying them some extra attention or bringing over a(n owner-approved) treat. A farm animal, yours or someone else’s, would always appreciate food… but what about offering to help with additional care, like grooming or a medical procedure? You could serve both the animal and its caretaker.
As we move away from domestic animals, I have to stress the importance of forethought and permission. Always check with an animal’s owner to make sure your interactions – especially food or close contact – are approved and safe for that animal. You may think a pig can eat whatever food you toss into its slop, but some foods might not be safe. You might think horses generally like scratches behind their ears, but a particular horse might not, and besides being uncomfortable, it might give you an unfortunate bite or kick to express its discomfort.
The importance of permission is fairly obvious with zoo or rescue or sanctuary animals. In fact, you may not be able to do anything directly for such animals. Don’t give them food outside of their approved diet. Certainly, don’t try to touch without a handler’s permission and supervision. Now, if you ask and get approved to give a treat or some social contact, that’s great! You probably can’t do anything for their extended care, but that’s why professionals are paid for those services.
What you can do, in that direction, is contribute. You might be able to contribute directly for the care of a specific animal, particularly at a zoo. Or you might be able to contribute only to the facility in general… but know that some portion of your donation will go to the care of a specific animal. What I’m saying is, giving to an animal care facility – or an environmental group devoted to animal protection – completely counts and fulfills this challenge. By all means, do so.
Last, we have the truly wild animals, kept by no human and dependent on none of us for survival… except in the general sense of not being killed, driven out of their habitats, poisoned by environmental toxins, etc. etc.
You’re probably following where I’m leading, here. One of the best things you can do for a wild animal is not bother them. If possible, change one of your habits or be more mindful, so that you aren’t in their way, don’t harm them or their environment, and don’t produce new threats.
Cut up plastic six-pack rings, for the sea turtles and seagulls. Clear away trash or poisons from your property, so that they aren’t touched or eaten by animals there. Leave a few plants open for the rabbits, even if you screen off everything else to preserve a portion for yourself. Drive carefully and with brights on when following country roads at night. Don’t use toxic herbicides, insecticides, or ice melter salts. For that matter, if you can avoid chemical pest control, please do; consider live capture or a natural predator, instead.
You could leave out a treat for wild animals, but the rules about caution and wisdom apply as above. Don’t put out ‘snacks’ that could be hazardous or unhealthy. Sure, skunks and squirrels might love candy bars, but that’s not good food. It could be fatal. Unforeseeable hazards exist with things like dry, sharp snack chips; hard, indigestible popcorn kernels; or sticky treats that can bind jaws and stools. Do your best to tailor any treat to the animals that are likely eating it. When in doubt, don’t leave it out. Birdseed is fine. Suet blocks are fine. Peanut butter is good. Stick to the known safe gifts.
So, choose your animal or animals: what kind and where. Think carefully about a suitable gift or service that would genuinely benefit them. Then deliver.
Besides the benefit to that animal directly, your action benefits you in several ways.
First, it serves as a reminder of your own animal nature, your needs, and your connection to the world and its other living things. I did lie a little, at the beginning: this challenge is about society and philosophy.
Second, serving non-human animals reminds us to be humble, remembering that we need such creatures for our own survival… yes, even vegans.
Together, these points should emphasize that you are only ‘above’ other animals in terms of your intelligence and adaptability, and you deserve no privilege from those abilities if you don’t use them well.
Other benefits earned depend on the animal selected and the nature of your service. Taking time with a pet strengthens the bond with that companion, in both directions. Helping with another person’s pet or other animal includes them in the bonding, building friendship along with the animal connection(s). Doing something for a captive animal brings that animal to your attention, along with the organization that cares for them and other creatures. And care for wild animals is care for the environment… not to mention, a good reason to learn more about that species and the land that supports them.
And last of all, this challenge is just one more time I remind you to be concerned with the needs of beings other than yourself. While caring for other humans can be interpreted cynically as currying favor or cultivating future services, in most cases, animals don’t directly return our favors.
Yes, some animals give affection, others become food, and others transport us or pull our machines, but for the most part, they’d do that without extra love and attention. When we give them more than we receive in return, we acknowledge them as worthy beings, equally in need of care, and equally deserving of our love and attention.
The same principle applies when we look at other humans. Because despite our shared species, our shared ‘human-ness’, and our shared intellect, it can become all too easy to treat other people as strange, wild animals, separate and unknowable. Even when that happens, they are still due our respect and aid.
The Challenge 