Season 1: End of Week 2

Previously I was not the biggest fan of animals, but as I have gained an internship at my local veterinary clinic, I have had a plethora of encounters with dogs and cats. In some cases, the interaction with these pets are very loving, consisting of petting, talking and even babying the animals. More often than not, my interaction with animals is very patient, a lot of times animals come in very weak and in need of care, which entails a lot of patience and sympathy. In the past, I did not think much of pets having much emotion or even feeding off other individuals aura, believing they were jut animals and nothing more. Based off of the research and articles we have read thus far in this course, my perception of animals has drastically changed. In my past courses, we covered a section on Koko, the gorilla, and it opened a new interest for me. It was intriguing to read and see how animals are able to learn sign language and demonstrate feelings. So fr, I have been more than excited when it comes to reading the TIME articles for this class. One of the excerpts from Communication I was most fascinated by was, "Yes, a growl or a whine or a volley of aggressive barks are all pretty straightforward and limited means of self-expression. But the dog's body says much more: the signature play pose- with the head and forelimbs low and the hindquarters up in the air- is an unmistakably happy signal... But a high tail, wagging quickly, may signal agitation" (75). Working at a veterinary clinic has allowed me to pick up on plenty of animal mannerisms and their significance to emotion. I am able to distinguish when a pet is anxious, afraid or ready to attack. Another stanza that stood out to me was in the article, Why cats and dogs think differently about you by Temple Grandin states, "But abandoned cats that are used to living outside may do just fine. They're healthier living with people because they get veterinary care, but they don't need to find another family to survive" (64). Cats are extremely independent creatures, who have proven to be of help to individuals and never needed any assistance in return.

Throughout Into the Mind Field, the author spends some time observing dolphins swim alongside their children, but is unsatisfied for he knows not what they are feeling, therefore he decides to get to know them in a deeper sense. Safina begins to ask many questions regarding the identity of animals, specifically dolphins, and why they are so mysterious to us, if humans themselves are animals. It tells how animals themselves have lives, careers and expectations they must meet within their own kind and community. It leverages away from human comparison and wants to focus solely on animals. The prologue allows for the author to tell us he is moving away from us telling stories of animals and allowing for animals to come forth and tell them on their own. it is an endeavor to befriend animals and their mannerisms. Much like the articles we have been assigned to read, these scientists and researches want to know who animals are, how they interact amongst each other and why they act the way they do.