The phrase “human-animal bond” or its variations now occur in the literature so often that the idea of asking where the bond comes from seems almost laughable. However when you try to pin someone down regarding the source, a certain amount of waffling often occurs. In general, probable sources fall into one of two categories: We may either inherent the potential or, barring that, we may learn it from others given the desire to do so and someone with the necessary knowledge to teach us.
While some view this as an either/or question and champion their personal view while passionately condemning the other, research and experience lead me to suggest that the human-animal bond is so critical to our species’ well-being and survival that we may gain it from either of those two sources and perhaps even a combination of the two. Oddly enough, I base my suppositions on a similar situation that exists with predatory behavior in cats. Whether we find predation acceptable or not, no one would argue that a wild cat’s survival depends on its ability to hunt. And, given the barely domesticated status of the domestic cat, it comes as little surprise that 50% of the domestic cats who have never seen a mouse will begin hunting as soon as this exposure occurs. Of the remaining 50%, the majority of nonhunters will learn to hunt if put with a hunting cat, particularly a queen hunting to feed herself and her kittens because these females are the most skilled hunters as well as best teachers.
If we accept, as I do, that the human species’ survival depends on our ability to recognize kinship with the rest of the animal kingdom, then we should see evidence of these same two paths leading to that kinship. So far the overwhelming majority of the focus has been on how we can instill this awareness in others. This may occur because traditionally human behavioral scientists have preferred to focus on how they can change others rather than on what others are capable of doing on their own. Or it could be because the results of educational programs are much easier to assess than determining if, how, where, and when an innate sense manifests. Whatever the reason, the results of studies on the development of a positive emotional link to animals as a result of educational programs taught by dedicated individuals make it clear that education can play an important role in the awakening of a sense of animal awareness and kinship in even the most ambivalent individuals.
Discussions of the inherent awareness tend to occur in the hallways after scientific meetings, in private e-mails, or musing over dinner after a few glasses of wine. However, several years ago a chance bus ride to the airport with a woman who served in a strictly administrative capacity at the bond meeting I was attending led me to one of those Aha! moments regarding the bond that I’ve hoped to see proof of someday. Given the usual focus on educational classes to teach bond awareness at the conference, our conversation began there then progressed to the advantages of early childhood education. I then asked her if she believed this was early enough. Without a moment’s hesitation she said, “No. I think we need to introduce children to animals as soon as they’re born.” She was quite serious about this and it intuitively struck me as correct, but we both laughed at what we knew the responses of the human medical community and the bulk of the bond researchers would be to that.
Still, the idea never left my mind because it made such good sense. I struggled to remember if I’d seen such signs of early awareness in my sons when they were little, but I realized that I most likely would have missed them if they were there. However, a recent consultation provided me with one of those serendipitous moments during which I did see a fantastic glimpse into the power of the bond. Perhaps because I so look forward to becoming a grandmother in the next few months, I was particularly enchanted by my clients’ 5½ month-old daughter. To me, she was one of the most beautiful and expressive babies I’d ever seen. The couple also had a very pushy black Lab who was constantly soliciting attention from his owners in his attempt to keep them focused on him. As is my custom, I asked them to ignore the dog so I could evaluate how much their response to him was a factor in his negative behavior.
As the consultation progressed, it slowly dawned on me that as the dog was becoming more anxious about being ignored, the baby was becoming more upset too. Then a wonderful moment came when the dog was sitting beside me trying to elicit eye contact from the owners while the child sat on her mother’s lap opposite me looking at the dog. As the anxious dog focused on the parents, the baby’s expression became increasingly troubled. She began to fidget and then held out a tiny hand to him. The motion caught his attention and he established eye contact with her. The instant he did, her face lit up like a Christmas tree. She’s a beautiful child to begin with, but the transformation was stunning to the point of causing me to gasp.
It was one of the most potent examples of the literal power of the human-animal bond I have ever experienced. Even now, it makes me smile just to think about it. Equally important, it left me with a feeling of reverence and awe, as if I’d witnessed something that greatly transcends the limits of the scientifically trained mind. Although that may make some feel uncomfortable, it doesn’t bother me in the least. To be part of that greater whole even for just that split second was like getting a glimpse into Eden.
The phrase “human-animal bond” or its variations now occur in the literature so often that the idea of asking where the bond comes from seems almost laughable. However when you try to pin someone down regarding the source, a certain amount of waffling often occurs. In general, probable sources fall into one of two categories: We may either inherent the potential or, barring that, we may learn it from others given the desire to do so and someone with the necessary knowledge to teach us.
While some view this as an either/or question and champion their personal view while passionately condemning the other, research and experience lead me to suggest that the human-animal bond is so critical to our species’ well-being and survival that we may gain it from either of those two sources and perhaps even a combination of the two. Oddly enough, I base my suppositions on a similar situation that exists with predatory behavior in cats. Whether we find predation acceptable or not, no one would argue that a wild cat’s survival depends on its ability to hunt. And, given the barely domesticated status of the domestic cat, it comes as little surprise that 50% of the domestic cats who have never seen a mouse will begin hunting as soon as this exposure occurs. Of the remaining 50%, the majority of nonhunters will learn to hunt if put with a hunting cat, particularly a queen hunting to feed herself and her kittens because these females are the most skilled hunters as well as best teachers.
If we accept, as I do, that the human species’ survival depends on our ability to recognize kinship with the rest of the animal kingdom, then we should see evidence of these same two paths leading to that kinship. So far the overwhelming majority of the focus has been on how we can instill this awareness in others. This may occur because traditionally human behavioral scientists have preferred to focus on how they can change others rather than on what others are capable of doing on their own. Or it could be because the results of educational programs are much easier to assess than determining if, how, where, and when an innate sense manifests. Whatever the reason, the results of studies on the development of a positive emotional link to animals as a result of educational programs taught by dedicated individuals make it clear that education can play an important role in the awakening of a sense of animal awareness and kinship in even the most ambivalent individuals.
Discussions of the inherent awareness tend to occur in the hallways after scientific meetings, in private e-mails, or musing over dinner after a few glasses of wine. However, several years ago a chance bus ride to the airport with a woman who served in a strictly administrative capacity at the bond meeting I was attending led me to one of those Aha! moments regarding the bond that I’ve hoped to see proof of someday. Given the usual focus on educational classes to teach bond awareness at the conference, our conversation began there then progressed to the advantages of early childhood education. I then asked her if she believed this was early enough. Without a moment’s hesitation she said, “No. I think we need to introduce children to animals as soon as they’re born.” She was quite serious about this and it intuitively struck me as correct, but we both laughed at what we knew the responses of the human medical community and the bulk of the bond researchers would be to that.
Still, the idea never left my mind because it made such good sense. I struggled to remember if I’d seen such signs of early awareness in my sons when they were little, but I realized that I most likely would have missed them if they were there. However, a recent consultation provided me with one of those serendipitous moments during which I did see a fantastic glimpse into the power of the bond. Perhaps because I so look forward to becoming a grandmother in the next few months, I was particularly enchanted by my clients’ 5½ month-old daughter. To me, she was one of the most beautiful and expressive babies I’d ever seen. The couple also had a very pushy black Lab who was constantly soliciting attention from his owners in his attempt to keep them focused on him. As is my custom, I asked them to ignore the dog so I could evaluate how much their response to him was a factor in his negative behavior.
As the consultation progressed, it slowly dawned on me that as the dog was becoming more anxious about being ignored, the baby was becoming more upset too. Then a wonderful moment came when the dog was sitting beside me trying to elicit eye contact from the owners while the child sat on her mother’s lap opposite me looking at the dog. As the anxious dog focused on the parents, the baby’s expression became increasingly troubled. She began to fidget and then held out a tiny hand to him. The motion caught his attention and he established eye contact with her. The instant he did, her face lit up like a Christmas tree. She’s a beautiful child to begin with, but the transformation was stunning to the point of causing me to gasp.
It was one of the most potent examples of the literal power of the human-animal bond I have ever experienced. Even now, it makes me smile just to think about it. Equally important, it left me with a feeling of reverence and awe, as if I’d witnessed something that greatly transcends the limits of the scientifically trained mind. Although that may make some feel uncomfortable, it doesn’t bother me in the least. To be part of that greater whole even for just that split second was like getting a glimpse into Eden.