Lots of Barkin' & Bitin' Going on Over Marley & Me

Although the movie, Marley & Me, promises to be a big hit, especially with fans of John Grogan's mega-bestseller book, not everyone loves the story and the human characters.

In Gina Spadafori's Pet Connection Column, "'Marley and Me'-Don't Try This at Home" (December 26, 2008, http://is.gd/e18L), Gina expresses the distaste that is shared by other animal lovers.

Gina writes, "But the book? I found it too irritating for words, and gave up on the reading halfway through. I found myself wanting to grab the man by the lapels and beg him to get competent help from a good trainer or behaviorist. There was nothing wrong with Marley that some consistent, well-informed environmental changes, training and exercise couldn't have fixed. "Bad" dogs just aren't funny to me. And now, of course, Marley's a movie. Thanks, but I'll pass."

The column elicited a flurry of responses from readers.

Kathleen Weaver wrote, "I'm glad you confessed. I feel the same way. I spent an almost an 8 year period of my life, finding out of control labs and retrievers, placing them with potential K9 officers and training dog and officer to find dope. Made a lot of people happy, especially the frustrated owners. The last thing I want to do, is waste almost 2 hours of my life watching clueless dog owners. I can do that anytime I want, just go to a local park or worse yet, dog park."

We posted a link to Gina's column on http://twitter.com/angelanimals and on our Angel Animals Facebook page, (Facebook-Linda-Allen Anderson). We also received comments from people who had not wanted to go against the grain and admit that they felt squeamish about labeling Marley as "the world's worst dog.

Megan, a reader of Gina's column, offered the point of view that we've heard expressed most often about why millions of people appreciated the drama in Marley & Me. Megan writes, "I think people loved the book because it makes them feel less guilty about their own shortcomings with their pets (if someone makes unruly pets or storm phobias seem funny, it becomes a character trait rather than a problem to be dealt with). Sad sad sad."

Marley & Me has become an empire with children's books and now a movie that tugs at the heartstrings. To their credit, although the Grogans almost got rid of Marley early on, they didn't join the ranks of the "dumpsters." Instead, they wound up keeping and loving Marley throughout his life.

So what do you think about Marley & Me?

Christine Agro offers 40 Days to Manifest Course

40 Days To Manifesting The Life You Want

Conscious Animal Radio host Christine Agro is a clairvoyant natural healer who works with both people and animals.

Work with Christine Agro to help shift the energy that stops you from manifesting your life's dreams.

Using psychic energy tools and age old mantras, you will set about breaking through the energies that get in your way.

We'll be working on clearing blocks (those things that keep you hiding, those things that make you accept less, those things that have you believing this is all there is) and opening the way to bring in more.

Are you ready to create more?

Are you ready to live your passion and purpose?

Are you ready?

This course runs 40 days - and will meet 7 times via teleconference* during the 40 days.
Teleconference are Wednesdays at 9 - 10 PM EST
First class January 7th
Jan 7, Jan 14, Jan 21, Jan 28, Feb 4, Feb 11 and Feb 18.

We will work together, but most importantly you will work each day for a minimum 30 minutes to help manifest all that you want. 40 continual days is necessary.

Are you ready? Sign up now!
$40





*your normal long distance charges apply to the teleconference.

December 29th Show - What does 2009 Hold for your Pet?

Want to know what 2009 holds for the animals in your life? Call-in on Monday December 29th and ask your questions to me and my guest astrologer/tarot reader Kathy Biehl.

Call-in to 646-716-7281.

The show airs live at 12 Noon EST and ends at 1 PM EST.

We look forward to hearing from you!

ASPCA Reminds Public of Laws Designed to Protect Carriage Horses

Edited Press Release

NEW YORK, December 18, 2008—During the busy—and very often cold—holiday season, carriage horse rides seem to be a staple of tourist activity in New York City. The ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® would like the public to be aware of some of the laws designed to protect the carriage horses and which agencies are responsible for enforcing those laws.

“Since our founding in 1866, the ASPCA has worked to protect and aid horses, as well as other animals, and continues that work today by enforcing carriage horse and animal cruelty laws in New York City,” said Stacy Wolf, Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel for the ASPCA’s Humane Law Enforcement division.

While ASPCA humane law enforcement agents and an equine veterinarian currently monitor horses and their drivers while out in the field and investigate complaints concerning the care and treatment of the horses, , the ASPCA reminds the public that several other agencies are also authorized to enforce the New York City carriage horse regulations, including the New York City Department of Health, the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs, the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, and the New York City Police Department.

“For many years, the ASPCA has stepped up to the plate and volunteered to oversee and ensure humane treatment of these horses at our expense,” Ms. Wolf added. “Because of limited resources, we can’t oversee them 24/7 and depend on the other agencies to work with us.”

New York city and state laws protecting carriage horses include:

•Carriage horses cannot be worked when the temperature reaches 18 degrees and below.
•During the winter, horses must be blanketed while awaiting passengers.
•Carriage horses cannot be driven faster than a trot.
•Carriage horses can only be worked nine hours during any 24-hour period.
•Horses must be given a rest period of at least 15 minutes for every two hours they work.
•Fresh water must be made available to them during their rest periods.
•Horses must be provided with enough food and water and allowed to eat and drink at reasonable intervals while they are working. (Carriage horse drivers may carry water on the carriage or make use of troughs in the park. The law does not specify how to provide water--only that it be provided.)
•Horses cannot be worked when they are lame or suffer from a physical condition, illness or condition that makes them unsuitable for work.
•The law prohibits “abuse “of carriage horses which means physical maltreatment or failure to provide the care required by the regulations.
•Horses are prohibited from working during “adverse weather conditions,” which means any condition that is hazardous to the health and safety of the horse, driver or the public. This includes, but is not limited to, ice, snow, heavy rain and other slippery conditions.
•Carriage horses are not allowed on bridges or in tunnels.
•Carriage horse operators must obey traffic laws. This includes traffic lights, signs, prohibitions on U turns, etc.

In addition to the New York City code and rules, state law makes cruelty to horses a crime. Cruelty means knowingly causing injury or death to a horse, or allowing someone else to do so.

Reports of suspected animal cruelty should be made to the ASPCA at (212) 876-7700, ext. 4450, or humanel@aspca.org

No Bowls for Goldfish

Did you know that in NY State Goldfish are protected under the Animal Cruelty Law and that "A person is guilty of aggravated cruelty to animals when, with no justifiable purpose, he or she intentionally kills or intentionally causes serious physical injury to a companion animal with aggravated cruelty."


So I've been asking the question and will continue to ask the question.."why do pet stores sell goldfish together with a bowl?" If your not up on your fish keeping, goldfish cannot survive in a goldfish bowl. There isn't enough surface area to provide the amount of oxygen they need to live a healthy, happy life. Water quality is an issue and stress on their systems can easily allow the "Ich" parasites to take hold and feast off the goldfish.

I found all of this out the hard way. I am an educated person and tend to research things before jumping in. But my son wanted a goldfish and all I could remember of goldfish was having one as a child. I opted for the biggest bowl they had, already intuitively feeling that the bowl was an issue. And even asked 'will the fish be OK in this bowl?" "Icy" as my son quickly named the fish, arrived with Ich. Ich is a parsite that latches on to the fish and feeds off the fluids of the fish. As I placed Icy in his new home, I noticed two white spots on his tail. I went back to the pet store the next day looking for help. The owner said 'yes, I saw that a few of the fish had Ich. Bring him back and we'll exchange him." Exchange him? My son took this fish out of his bag and said "Hi Icy, I'm Caidin. Welcome to our home." I wasn't about to 'exchange' him. So I bought the Ich treatment and set about my mission to save Icy.

During this process, Icy struggled for enough oxygen (as I found out by jumping on line...wishing I'd done this first...and now writing in the hopes of sparing another goldfish the same cruel fate). He seemed to be getting better and then the bowl sprung a leak. And why is it that when this happens it's always after hours. So I put him in the biggest bowl I could find and did frequent water changes using Poland Springs water (I went through 33 liters of Poland Springs). Icy didn't make it though. He was found lifeless on the bottom of his bowl and thus began a running conversation about life and death with my 4 year old.

Icy was buried in a Metropolitan Museum of Art Jewelry Box in front of our apartment.

So not only do I feel really awful about Icy's life, I am really questioning why pet stores, especially in a State where goldfish are protected under the animal cruelty law, are allowed to sell a goldfish and bowl together.


We now have a 10 gallon take with a filter going through a cycling process awaiting the arrival of our next goldfish. It's been two months and is currently home to one snail. I'm not sure where it came from but it's growing by the day. And I am not sure about getting another goldfish, so for now, it's just speedy the snail.

NYC's Best Dog Psychic...is...ME!

I'm excited to share with you that Pocket Change.com chose me as the Best Dog Psychic in NYC. The greatest thing is that they understood my work was more than just 'talking' to animals. They understood that through my work people gain a deeper understanding of the animals in their lives, what we can be done to better support their animal friends and how to better provide for their animal's needs.

Here's a link to the article "10 Ways To Spoil Your Dog" http://pocketchangenyc.com/

The long road to Vicktory...A story that begins in dark and ends in the light.

In early 2001 the newly drafted Atlanta Falcon’s Quarterback Michael Vick along with two others, Quanis Phillips and Tony Taylor began a venture to sponsor pit bull terriers in dog fighting. A fourth, Purnell Peace joins the group. Vick then buys a piece of property for $34,000 in Smithfield Virginia to set up their Bad Newz Kennels.

Throughout 2001/2003 the group acquires and tests pit bulls for fighting suitability. Numerous dogs deemed unsuitable were killed by Peace, Phillips and Taylor during this time. By Spring 2003 the group is entering dogs in fights, winning and subsequently hosting fights at Bad Newz Kennels. Dogs both travel to and from Bad Newz Kennels to participate in fights.

In April 2007 according to Vick’s summary of events, Peace, Phillips and Vick test several dogs from the Bad Newz Kennels and agree to the killing of 6-8 dogs who perform poorly. The dogs were killed by various methods, including hanging and drowning.

On April 24, 2007 Vick’s cousin David Boodie is arrested on drug charges. He gives the address of Bad Newz Kennel as his place of residence and a warrant to search the property is issued. Animal control officers find 66 dogs – 55 of them pit bulls and a training complex on the property. they found dogs, some injured and scarred, chained to buried car axles. Forensic experts on a subsequent search discovered remains of dogs that had been shot with a .22-caliber pistol, electrocuted, drowned, hanged or slammed to the ground for lacking a desire to fight.

Initial reports indicated that most if not all of the dogs will be euthanized, but after much outcry, debate and behind the scenes maneuvering many of the dogs are given a reprieve. 47 dogs in total are sent to sanctuaries around the country, 22 in need of the most support, including Lucas – Vicks prize fighter and Jane (now named Georgia) his first fighting dog find homes at the Best Friends Animal Society in Utah.

Lucas now at Best Friends

In Nov 2007 Vick agrees to pay almost $1 million into an escrow fund to cover the cost of care for the dogs found on his property.

To give you an idea of what these dogs experienced here is a segment from a February 2, 2008 New York Times article written by Juliet Macur.

“A quick survey of Georgia, a caramel-colored pit bull mix with cropped ears and soulful brown eyes, offers a road map to a difficult life. Her tongue juts from the left side of her mouth because her jaw, once broken, healed at an awkward angle. Her tail zigzags.

“Scars from puncture wounds on her face, legs and torso reveal that she was a fighter. Her misshapen, dangling teats show that she might have been such a successful, vicious competitor that she was forcibly bred, her new handlers suspect, again and again.

“But there is one haunting sign that Georgia might have endured the most abuse of any of the 47 surviving pit bulls seized last April from the property of the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick in connection with an illegal dog fighting ring.

“Georgia has no teeth. All 42 of them were pried from her mouth, most likely to make certain she could not harm male dogs during forced breeding.”

A quick visit to Best Friends website and you will learn the names of these 22 dogs and learn about their unique personalities – warm, funny, shy, sneaky eyes and more.

On Monday December 22nd Dr. Frank McMillian, DVM, auhtor of "Unlocking The Animal Mind" and Director of Well-Being Studies at Best Friends has been working with the Victory dogs. He will be joining me to talk about their inspiring road and what it has been like to be at the center of such a high profile case.

Join me live on Monday, December 22nd 12 Noon EST...

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/consciousanimal

Your Pets and the Current Astrological Weather

When you read about the astrological weather in the paper or online, remember that your animal companions are feeling the effects, too. Everyone and everything has a birth chart, and everyone and everything down here responds in some way to what's going on above. Right now the skies are beaming down some intense and powerful energies, and it's helpful to keep in mind that they are influencing pets as well.

The primary stress is coming from Pluto, which strips down and transforms everything it touches. When Pluto is at work, it's like a gardener preparing his crops for winter. Diseased, withering and dead leaves and branches are cut away; plants are pruned back to increase their ability to flourish come spring. Because he is the ruler of the underworld, Pluto also stirs deep and intense emotions, heavy on the fears, as well as an awareness of mortality. He can make you want to crawl back under the covers and hide, but there's no escaping. When he is at work in a chart, his influence is relentless and unavoidable. And ultimately extremely beneficial.

Pluto has moved into the sign of Capricorn, the first time he has done this in our lifetimes. (He was there briefly from the end of January to the beginning of June, and he moved back in the day before Thanksgiving, for a 15-year stay.) He has been sitting at the first degree of the sign and will be moving from it to the next few degrees and back over the next year. This means that Pluto's influence is at its rawest, most unrefined and, in some ways, most brutal.

One of the things that Capricorn rules is physical structures, such as the skeletons that support our bodies. (Also financial institutions -- big surprise?) Everyone is feeling the stress from this, even -- especially -- animals. Bodies that are already weakened are having a very hard time lately. People have been bringing a lot of sad news from the vet to me lately -- sudden and unexpected deaths of beloved longtime companions, a few-month-old kitten being diagnosed with feline AIDS and given less than two months to live.

Even those of us in relatively decent shape are being worn down by this influence, too. Do not underestimate the psychic and emotional stress everyone in your household is under. It has the power to lower everyone's resistance. It's more important than usual to take care of ourselves and the animals around us. As we all adjust to the stripped-down regime of Pluto in Capricorn, wellness and preventative health measures are imperative: rest, proper nutrition, exercise and relaxation for you and your animals. Pay particular attention to bones, joints and ligaments. They are easy targets now and may experience an upsurged in aches, pains and problems.

There's an emotional component as well. The past year has rewired our experience of reality and it has shifted, forever. Our world is different; we are different. Our animals have changed, too, in two ways. The first is their response to us. They respond to us instinctively. They are often a reliable emotional barometer of what's going on with us. Since we're different, animals are reacting to us differently. The second is that animals are undergoing their own transformation now, too.

Breaks in behavior patterns are common now. Your animal may be disoriented, because you aren't sending out the same type of vibe that you always have before. Your animal may also be changing in personality and body as well. In the past few weeks Sasha, the cat who lives with me, has abandoned years of quiet and self-sufficiency for unprecedented assertiveness. She has been following me around the house, positioning herself in ways that demand attention (jumping on the computer keyboard, sitting on the cards during a Tarot reading) and vocalizing, frequently, to signal needs. My schedule has been different and made my times of accessibility to her erratic. i have responded to Sasha's new behaviors by explaining that my changes benefit her (I have to go away sometimes to earn the money for us to have shelter and food), telling her when I will be available to her that day and reminding her that she has important jobs in the home and can live with me for as long as she wants.

Look at your pets with this in mind now. Take better care than ever of their physical needs. Watch for behavior changes. Be aware that they may be undergoing emotional and psychic stress and experiencing primal emotions themselves. (Flower essences may be helpful; I have been putting Rescue Remedy in Sasha's water bowl.) They are adjusting to the new astrological era, too, as well as to the new you.

Closing thoughts for December 15th

Somehow I think I skipped my closing thoughts for today, so here they are.

Photo of Christine and Milo by John Scott

Final thoughts: When I look at dogs their unconditional love is so great that it resonates out through their entire being. They hold such great lessons for us – to live in the moment, to be grateful for all we have, to enjoy life fully, to love fully and no matter what has happened, they always have faith in our ability to do better.

Breaking News...BBC pulls out of Crufts Dog Show

After 40 years the BBC cuts it's coverage of the Crufts Dog Show. The Kennel Club which runs the show would not meet the demands of the BBC to exclude a number of breeds. The breeds in question are identified as having genetic conditions as a result of inbreeding.

In August the BBC aired the documentary "Pedigree Dogs Exposed" The documentary exposed a number of breeds including King Charles Spaniels, Boxers, Pugs and Bull Dogs, whose breeding has lead to serious genetic conditions that range from inhibited breathing to skulls to small for their brains.

The RSPCA has pulled out of this year's Crufts also stating that it would not have it's usual presence at the event.

It will be interesting to see what impact this has on the Westminster Dog Show.

Here is just one article http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1094182/BBC-drops-Crufts-40-years-Kennel-Club-refuses-cruel-dog-breeding.html?ITO=1490

And here is the documentary

Documentary - BBC - Pedigree Dogs Exposed

Why do millions of people tune in to puppies?

NBC Nightly News included a story on its December 12th broadcast about the phenomenon of the Shiba Inu Puppy Cam. Over 18 million people, spending the equivalent of 790 years worth of time, have tuned in to watch a bin filled with the puppies. The pooches are mostly sleeping. Sometimes, though, they play together.

Newscaster Brian Williams closed the segment by saying that he has no idea what this says about our society.

Of course, we got a good laugh out of that statement because after writing over ten books about animals, including two dog books, we have our own theories regarding what the bliss and joy of watching puppies says about society.

In our opinion it says that when you're troubled, bored, stressed, or in need of companionship, there is absolutely nothing as satisfying as taking on the puppy consciousness, even if it's only vicariously.

Studies show the health benefits of having pets in your life -- lower blood pressure, less anxiety, decrease in depression and loneliness -- to name a few. Probably watching the puppies frolic or snooze does all those things for people.

This is an overwrought world where we often forget to take care of our emotional and spiritual needs while we run from one item on our to-do list to another. A carefree, playful puppy is just what the doctor/health practitioner ordered.

What do you think? How would you answer Brian's question about what the popular puppy cam says about our society?

NBC Nightly News report on Shiba Inu Puppy Cam: http://is.gd/bvl8

Shiba Inu Puppy Cam: http://is.gd/4FnB

Coming Up: For Monday December 15th 2009

Conscious Animal Radio: Monday, December 15th 2009, 12 Noon

I look forward to speaking with Linda Anderson, co-author of Angel Dogs With A Mission: Divine Messengers in Service to All Life and co-founder of Angel Animal Network. Linda and her husband Allen founded the Angel Animals Network (http://www.angelanimals.net/) in 1996to share the healing, emotional, instructional, and spiritual benefits and complexities of human-animal companionship. We'll be talking about their most recent book Angel Dogs With A Mission - which I keep wanting to call "Angel Dogs on a Mission" so we'll see what's behind that too. Nothings ever a mistake...

My second guest is Steve McGarva, an amazing man with a wonderful gift and generous heart. Steve has been kindly and patiently rescuing, tending to and providing dignity to the stray dogs of Puerto Rico's Dead Dog Beach since 2003. I'll be talking to Steve about the situation in Puerto Rico, if anything has changed and what he's doing today after being feature this year in People Magazine as "The Dog Rescuer".

NEW: Listeners can call in with questions for me during the last 10 minutes of the show. If you want to call in with questions about your animal friends the number is:646-716-7281.

See you Monday!

Christine Agro

'Hero dog' pulls another dog from oncoming traffic

A homeless dog in Chile pulled an injured dog from traffic and it was all caught on video.



Clair Abreu at L.A. Unleashed reports:

UPDATE: After hundreds of thousands of people viewed the video of the hero dog last week, authorities understandably received a few calls about him, some from people wanting to adopt. And along with those in the comment section, we at Unleashed wondered about the fate of his injured friend.

Bad news, dear readers, if you haven't heard:

Highway crews removed both the dead and live dogs from the median strip of the Vespucio Norte Highway shortly after the Dec. 4 incident, and the rescuer dog ran away.

Authorities say images of the rescue prompted some people to call and offer to adopt the dog, but neither highway workers nor a television crew could find they animal when they went to hunt for it.

Dogs Can Feel Envy...but we already know that!

Coming on the tail of my interview with Marc Bekoff (The Emotional Lives of Animals December 8th 2008), News Feeds are reporting that scientists have 'proven' that dogs can experience envy. They had to do a study to prove that? It's one of the things Marc and I were talking about during the show, scientists need to prove things that intuitivly or through experience we just know.

It's a good article though, so be sure to follow the link and have a read.
Dogs Can Feel Envy - National Geographics Article

The study was led by Friederike Range of the University of Vienna, Austria.

And even she acknowledges that dog lovers already know this...but now it's official.

From A Wild Bird's Heart - A Gift Package

Dear Christine,

Thank you for the amazing work you're doing in airing the stories of so many species of animals. You are giving us all the opportunity to learn more about how rich their emotional and spiritual relationships really are and what we can do to stop wronging them.

We would like to offer some free gifts for your readers and the listeners of your radio show Consciousanimalradio.com

Gift 1. From A Wild Bird's Heart Gift Package

Consists of:
a) 23 Amazing Facts About Wild Bird Culture - A Wild Magpie Taught Me (with true observations)
b) Five Keys to Friendship with Wild Birds (A Quick Start Guide)
c) Free subscription to Wild Bird Talking ezine (bi-monthly)
d) How to Help Injured or Stunned birds (audio and transcript)

Instructions for receiving the above are at: http://wingedhearts.org/fromabirdsheart

Gift 2. Australian Wild Birds Calendar 2009


This is a 13 page photographic quality calendar which can be previewed and downloaded from:

http://wingedhearts.org/calendar2009

You can print it on photo paper for a distinctive and unusual Christmas gift.

We hope you all enjoy these as much as we did did putting them together.

We would also like to wish everyone the very best of the season and a wonderful 2009.

Best Regards

Ron and Gitie

Closing Thoughts For December 8th Show

I cannot understand why humanity feels that we are some how superior to all other creatures. We may have attributes that allow us to excel and exceed, but these attributes can also be our downfall and in my mind make us at times less than the animals we exploit. Until we recognize the value, the importance and the life experience in each living being we do not deserve to consider ourselves more evolved.

It is my hope that through the work of people like Marc Bekoff and through the inspiring lives of people like Ron and Gitie House and through the efforts of organizations like Farm Sanctuary that one day we will all come to recognize there is nothing exceptional about the human race. We are one part of whole and because of our ability to speak, reason and discover, we should be the greatest protectors of all beings.

Emotional Lives of Animals: Miranda

I wanted to share one of my own experiences of witnessing the emotional lives of animals. My dog Miranda who passed on April 15, 2003 was a nervous dog, but she was also a very loving dog.

On December 26, 2002 my other dog Pebbles passed unexpectedly. She developed bloat, a condition where the stomach lifts and twists causing the body to fill with air. It happened at 11:30 at night. We rushed Pebbles to the Veterinary ER and while they were trying to stabilize her, she went into cardiac arrest and died.

We returned home without her, my husband, Miranda and I all in shock.

As we processed Pebbles' passing I noticed that Miranda's eyes were squinting. No tears flowed but it was the same expression a human's eyes have when they cry and I realized that Miranda was crying, but without the tears.

I'd love to hear your stories of recognizing emotions in animals.

Remember to tune in tomorrow, December 8th for my interview Marc Bekoff, author of Emotional Lives of Animals.

Blessings,

Christine Agro

The Emotional Lives of Animals

There are many images and videos that demonstrate the emotional lives of animals. This YouTube video of two moose playing in a sprinkler with Mom watching on is one of my favorites. The moose frolic and play while Mom stands by slightly on guard, a little nervous, but allowing her kids to take a risk.

Marc Bekoff joins me tomorrow December 8th live on Conscious Animal Radio. I am so excited and am really looking forward to speaking with him.

His work in documenting and promoting from a scientific perspective the fact that animals do indeed have emotions is changing the way humanity understands their relationships to all animals.

For those who love animals, there has never been doubt that animals have emotional experiences from joy to grieving; but as is true to form, science required evidence, which is one question I have for Marc; "Why is that science needs proof?" and "Why does society place so much weight in scientific documentation when we in our hearts and intuition have our own truth."

I encourage you to call in with your own questions or your own stories of the emotional lives of animals that you know at 646-716-7281 or leave your questions here as comments and I'll ask them for you.

See you Monday at 12 Noon Est.

Blessings,

Christine Agro

Male Cat Baldness

We receive many letters and emails from people who have learned other important lessons by observing animals in their homes or in nature. Here are a couple stories that might cause you to wonder who is teaching whom in human-animal relationships.

Lynn Hewitt says that her cat Poog has the kind of expressive green eyes that convey his intelligence and gentle heart. She writes about an experience with her brother-in-law, Ron, Poog's favorite houseguest.

"Ron has a calm and determined manner. What Ron says and does, reflects his inner feelings with a consistency and integrity that Poog obviously understands and respects. Whenever Ron visits, Poog behaves as if a royal prince has entered his realm."

Ron customarily wears a baseball cap. It covers his shaved, bald scalp. On one occasion, Ron took off his cap when he came into the house. This was the first time Poog had ever seen him without it. Since the cat always paid the most worshipful attention to Ron, it was with great dismay that Poog observed the change in his friend's demeanor.

The sight of hairless Ron caused Poog to begin moaning. He circled Ron slowly and jumped up on the chair to look more closely at the disaster that had been visited upon his hero. Poog's sad eyes told the story of his empathy for a fallen prince who had obviously endured a great disaster.

Lynn writes, "Poog clearly communicated horror and sympathy for Ron's 'furless' head. It brought tears to the eyes of several humans in the room as Poog slowly crept respectfully up the arm of this honored guest and gently licked and kissed his scalp in obvious sorrow and sympathy. There are greater tragedies in a cat's world, but the shaving away of fur was certainly a calamity Poog recognized. His sincere and gently offered condolence remains a lesson in the innate character and virtues of our animal friends, especially when their unique gifts of individuality are consistently honored and nurtured with love and respect."

Has an animal expressed his or her sympathy toward your physical or emotional situation?