The Pitfalls Of Not Knowing The Whole Animal, By B. W. De Waal

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This can be answered in Frans. B.W. de Waal’s essay, “The Pitfalls of not Knowing the Whole Animal,” where Waal emphasizes on why humans should connect with animals emotionally in order to truly understand the animal. He compares the ridiculous claims that some scientists made about an animal based on what they know about other animals in general, but they never once tried to connect with the animal. Scientists that had worked with animals for a while understands that “care of their subjects is a round-the-clock business,” and not something that can be done half-heartedly (247). Waal acknowledges that, “only those scientists who try to learn everything there is to know about a particular animal have any chance of unlocking its secrets” (252). …show more content…

A wolf and a leopard is able to be with a little child while the lion eats straw. The image that I see when I read this is one where all these animals are together underneath a tree smiling and playing together. The wolf and leopard are lying next to the child as the child sleeps, the calf and young lion are playing in the distance, and the cow, bear, ox, and lion are all feeding on straws. This unity between cross-species is the pinnacle of coexistence of all species. Dwyer also acknowledges this when he says, “It is a vision of peace where childlike friendliness is validated, allowing for concord among humans and all other animals” (630). Ironically, this is also what humans want. Humans actually desire to be with animals, according to Dwyer and Dr.Bekoff, a professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology (Goode, 1). In Erica Goode’s essay, “Learning from Animal Friendships,” Dr. Bekoff says that, “Humans are craving to be re-wildered. They’re craving to be reconnected to nature” (Goode, 1). For example, we visit zoos in order to be closer to animals, to connect with nature, and the petting zoo exists in order for us to actually physically connect with the animals. However, the zoo is not the only way for humans to connect with animals. This is one of the reason humans keep pets. Human’s relationship with pets is a prime example of the desire to connect with nature. But, as …show more content…

More than half of American households have a pet and this trend is just spreading more and more. The main reason people are keeping pets is for the companionship that pets offer. Normal household pets, such as dogs and cats, offer people the attention and the feeling of always having a companion by one’s side that people may not get from other humans. Pets nowadays are often treated as a regular member of one’s family and people will spend a lot of money for their pets. In 2014, Americans has spent an estimated $58 billion on their pets along with hours of care for them (Yuhas, 1). Regardless of the type of pets people may choose to have there is always a common emotional bond that ties the human with the animal between all loving pet owners. This emotional bond benefits humans in various ways. When you look at someone’s pet you may not think it can teach you anything or do anything for you besides being there for you. However, a study in Austria, conducted by Pauleen Bennett and Jordan Schaan, discovered that pets became “instructors” for their owners in living a better life. “People felt they could derive unconditional love and forgiveness from their dogs, whereas human beings seemed more likely to disappoint one another” (Yuhas, 1). This statement reveals how negatively humans view each other. If a person rather be with an

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