The Importance of Allowing Animals to Choose
We share our world and our lives with animals of all kinds. From the many species of wild animals living outside to the animals we choose to occupy our homes and our hearts with- we are interacting with living beings on a regular basis. Unfortunately, sometimes humans fail to consider whether or not our interactions with animals are welcomed and force their wants onto an unwilling participant. When an animal’s ability to choose is taken away from them it can have negative consequences for both parties.
This concept can be demonstrated with an animal that many consider to be simple (and oftentimes scary)- the spider.
I have been in the exotic animal keeping world for several years. I have owned/currently own animals of many kinds, including reptiles, small mammals, and amphibians. I also own a variety of tarantulas.
When I tell people that I own ‘creepy crawlies’, they are often shocked. “That’s so odd,” they say. “Aren’t you worried about them biting you?”
The truth is, I have little to no concern about being bitten by my spiders. Just like most of the animal population, they have no desire to harm me. Before interacting with them directly I always observe their reaction to me gently touching them with a paintbrush. If they react in a manner that suggests they prefer to be left alone, I ALWAYS listen. If I were to insist on interacting with that spider and continue prodding, it could choose to react in a defensive manner- potentially biting me.
So why am I telling you about spiders?
When you ignore an animal’s signals and take away their right to choose, that is when bad and potentially dangerous situations arise. It doesn’t matter if the animal is:
A wild animal that you encountered while out on a walk
Your friend’s pet rabbit
A dog encountered in public
Or even your own dog
Animals should always be given the option to say no to a situation. Just as you could potentially lash out if you felt trapped with no other option- animals can as well.
I encourage you to learn more about animal body language and behavior so that you can acknowledge how they feel about the situation- and give them the ability to choose whether or not they want to be a part of it.
To learn more about dog body language and determining emotional states, visit iSpeakDog here.