Did you know that animals need to feel like they have an important job in their lives with you?
We call our animal friends pets and think they live these lives of comfort and ease, but in truth animals enjoy having a sense of responsibility, and want to give of themselves in meaningful ways in their family’s lives.
A few months ago I adopted a wild rescue donkey, and named her Daisy. Shell-shocked and confused from the BLM round-up* and transport experiences, she arrived at my property acting skittish and feeling uncertain.
But within 36 hours she was eating carrots out of my hand and realizing that she really likes it here; she feels at home.
Then once she decided she belongs here with me and my other animals, Daisy wanted to know what her jobs are, so that she could feel part of it all and contribute.
The next day she got the memo, before I even had the chance to communicate with her about it: one of her jobs is to protect the chicken house. I didn’t have to tell her, she just sensed it from the space around us.
Soon I found her taking up her post guarding the run.
Above and beyond her guarding job, she is also a friend to the chickens, kind of a counselor, for lack of a better word. When I was integrating the new chickens into the existing flock, I would often find Daisy standing up near the run, sharing her deep, calming presence. The anxiety in the chickens was palpable, and so was Daisy’s sweet, loving heart. She made this transition so much easier for us all.
I imagine you may have an understanding of what your animal friends’ jobs are in their lives with you. Maybe you know from their behavior, from your own empathic connection with them, or maybe you have heard from them in an animal communication session with me, what they perceive as their jobs and purpose in your life.
If you feel inspired, please email me photos with two or three sentences about your animal friends’ jobs in your family. If I receive enough contributions I may post yours along with others in an upcoming newsletter.
It is so fun to see and feel how our animals brighten our days and share their gifts with us. It can be as simple as sitting on your lap to help you unwind after a long day of work, or as intense as herding the cattle on your farm. Whatever is true and real and you think others might enjoy reading.
*BLM is short for Bureau of Land Management. This government organization rounds up wild horses and donkeys, in an effort to decrease the number of animals competing with beef cattle for grazing on public lands. A percentage of these wild horses and donkeys get adopted, and others end up in much worse circumstances.