Anatole France was right when he said until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains asleep. Animals bring you instant happiness.
Isn't it true? Let me tell you one story. This story is about the relationship between a human being and a bird.
Rozi likes birds a lot and she always enjoys feeding them. At her home she fixed a place where she placed 2 pots for birds, 1 for water and 1 for food. One day she went outside with her family. Her car was caught in a traffic jam, stopped behind many others and she was getting bored. She looked out the window at her surroundings and suddenly she heard a parrot’s whistle, and thought to herself “where did that voice come from?”
After few minutes she saw a parrot in the car behind hers. That parrot was so attractive. Her kids pointed it out and wanted to touch it, but she didn't allow them to as she didn't know the people who were sitting in the car. When the traffic started moving, and both cars were on their way again, her hubby saw the other car’s driver and told Rozi “he's my old friend!” Now her kids shouted “we know them, so we want to touch that parrot.”
Rozi's husband gave a signal to the other driver for him to stop. They stopped the car on the side of the road. The father left the car and went to meet his friend. Both were happy for this opportunity to see each other again. They gathered and talked for some time. After a short period of time he asked his friend if the children could touch the parrot, and his friend said “sure, why not?”
When his friend asked to take the parrot back to his car and leave, his younger daughter started to cry, saying that she wanted to play with it more. When his friend saw his daughter’s teary eyes, he could not say no, so he offered to give them the parrot as a pet. At first the father refused his offer, but his friend forced him to take it so he finally accepted and they took the parrot home with them.
Now the parrot had become a new member of the household. In the beginning Rozi didn't feel comfortable with the parrot. She didn't like his presence in her life and she felt a sense of irritation. She didn't take care of him, leaving that chore to others. She liked birds, but she didn't like it when they were in cages, so she often fought with her children about this issue. The children didn't want to listen to her, and did what they wanted to do. They checked its food and water daily, but one day they forgot.
Rozi was little upset on that day so when she heard parrot’s whistle, she shouted at him, but parrot didn't stop whistling, so she went near its cage and saw the empty bowls. She felt bad and took out the bowls and filled them with water and food.
When she put bowls in the cage, the parrot started to lick her hand. She felt her heart soften at this, she enjoyed the touch of the parrot. She felt a change in her mood. She sat near the cage and saw how it was eating food and drinking water.
She forgot to do her house chores. When the doorbell rang, she woke up like she was sleeping with her eyes wide open. Her kids were at the door and asked about the lunch. Rozi replied to them that she had forgotten to make lunch as she had sat with the parrot and the time had passed very quickly.
She said, just wait for half an hour and I will make something for you. She told them “You may go and take a bath, and then you may play with the parrot.” The children obeyed her advice.
After about one hour they had their lunch and again wanted to play with the parrot, but now Rozi said “it's my turn to play with it.” The kids were surprised. They asked her “Are you serious mom? Do you really want to play with the parrot?" She replied, "yes, I want to sit with it." The kids were happy to see this.
Now day by day Rozi became more attached with the parrot. She took care of him like her kids. She started to give him food on time. The parrot also became more attached to her and recognized her presence. When she came close to him, the parrot literally talked to her. She felt good about her new relationship with the parrot, whereas her children now became angry, saying "mom, we brought this parrot, why is it attached to you?" But she didn't answer.
The parrot, by listening to her footsteps, came and sat on her shoulder, it bit her earrings and ears and she felt amazed at its attention. Day by day Rozi started to recognize its whistle, its needs. She started to identify and understand what it wanted.
That shows that animals also need attention and love...
Animals also feel, have emotions and they feel good when someone cares. That's why it's often said, "THERE IS NO FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MAN AND ANIMALS IN THEIR ABILITY TO FEEL PLEASURE AND PAIN, HAPPINESS AND MISERY!
(Jyoti)