Animals or Humans?
A friend of mine was asked a question: “If you had to choose between either your animals or your boyfriend or girlfriend or wife or husband, what would you choose?”
I was thinking, if that is wrong if I prefer animals over people? If I have to choose between a cat or a dog and a human being, I would choose an animal. I know, sounds wrong…but I honestly feel more compelled to choose a cat over a human being.
People make choices, people have a voice, they can verbalize and ask for help. They can take care of themselves. People have hidden agendas, they are fake, they pretend, they lie, they back stab, and their love always have conditions. Their choices are based on benefits that they might get out of the situation.
Animals, on the other hand, always kill out of necessity. They can’t speak up or verbalize abuse. However, their love is unconditional and their ability to forget the wrong doing and trust humans is amazing. They never back stab you, they never have hidden agendas. What you see is what you get. They don’t hold a grudge, they love with all their hearts, they live right here right now.
Animals respect Mother Nature. Most of the human race doesn’t. Animals take what is needed for their survival, humans kill for fun. Humans mostly murder either because they want something or they enjoy it. Animals kill to protect or to feed.
I come home to a cat and see an unconditional love and trust. I know that she trusts that I will not harm her and that I will do whatever I can to take care of her. There are no expectations and there is no agenda.
I have had discussions about intelligence versus basic instincts. People have mentioned children, battered women, kind and respecting people, tree hugers, and etc.
I love my friends, I respect people who do an amazing job protecting Mother Nature and fighting for human and animal rights. However, no matter how I look at it, I still choose animals over humans.
Is that wrong?
7 responses to “Animals or Humans?”
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The Long Way Home 
What a gorgeous little bird..!
My first thought is: Should I comment to such a heart felt question? Second thought: I can’t help myself –
There have been times in my life when I would have answered this question differently. However; today I am quite happy to say that I would prefer my partner’s company to the company of an animal. I’m sure glad though, that I don’t have to be without my little dog’s company too; she is so full of fun, but wouldn’t be able to provide me with the love, company and support that I feel I receive from my partner.
I also appreciate what you say about the limitations of us humans; we can be a fickle lot..! I feel though, that I am in a space where I can accept the frailty of humans and (even knowing of those things about which you wrote) still feel safe enough within myself to embrace those known disappointments without succumbing to them.
You must be going through a rough time at the moment. I know, when I have felt the way that you are currently feeling, that I was in a rough spot…. Hope you don’t take offence..! None intended…. 😉
Carolyn, I am not in a position where I have to choose. It was just a rhetorical question. As more I thought about it as more confused I got. I am still thinking. And I do understand that opinion on this matter will vary from person to person…
Dace, it didn’t sound rhetorical to me; must have been reading too literally.
I wouldn’t think too deeply, if I were you; humans versus dogs and cats is an unfair question, as far as I’m concerned. The animals would win ‘hands down’ (in my corner) every time if it were based on loyalty, ability to give, cuteness, etc. However; the one thing they can’t provide (as far as I’m concerned) is the challenge of overcoming those things within ourselves that prevent us from becoming ’rounded’ (ahem, excuse the term) individuals capable of handling life with all its complexities.
Yeah sure; life can be tough with another human being at times however; that’s the only way that I know of to become an individual who is self-reliant yet capable of unity.
(I must qualify my words with this. I have had a number of partners throughout my lifetime. I wouldn’t suggest, for one moment, that 1 individual (1 partner) is what it takes. When it has been the right moment I have ‘moved on’. When the story is over, it’s over. In my book it is all about the question of what is best for the individuals concerned. That’s not always to remain together. However; I must go back to my original premise. An animal cannot give us the ability to mature.)
I should have put a few smiley faces here and there in my text to make sure that people do not take it too seriously. It was one of those days when something caught my attention and I just had to think about it.
As most of the things in this life – nothing is just white or black. You are also right about growth, maturity and ability to handle life, provide camaraderie, support, go through ups and downs, tough it through, common sense, humanity, intelligence and etc.. There are a lot of aspects that can be looked at and I hope not many people have to face a situation where they have to choose.
It’s a healthy and thought provoking conversation…thanks for sharing your opinion.
First, there’s no wrong way to feel about something. You feel the way you feel and that’s ok.
Short story. I have a 6-year-old cat named Callie. I raised her from 8 weeks on and she and I are inseparable. She was with me two years before my partner entered the picture. Now when my partner and I go on vacation for a weekend, we have to board her because she can’t handle being by herself. And when I’m gone and my partner’s home for a week by herself, the cat is not herself at all.
A few months ago, Callie started going to the bathroom outside the litter box. We tried just about everything and it was to the point that she was going to have to find a new home. I love my partner but I had a momentary twinge of “If the cat goes, so do I.” My partner and I had to have a talk about the fact that if we were to get rid of the cat, our relationship would not be the same. It just wouldn’t.
We finally figured out what the issue was and Callie is now happily using her box again but that still doesn’t mean she and my partner get along great. My partner has just finally resigned herself to the fact that I’m not getting rid of Callie and, at least for the next 10 years, Callie’s going to be around.
I don’t know that I can logically describe my bond with Callie, it’s just there. Is that choosing an animal over a human, I don’t know.
I guess what I’m getting at is that I empathize with you. I don’t understand the animal-human bond, but I do get that it’s real and that for some people it’s felt more strongly than for others. 🙂
Cheers to you!
Thanks to all good spirits, I do not have to choose as that would be the hardest decision in my life. I have two amazing women in my life – my little grey fluffy and my partner, and three of us have an amazing bond.
It would be a terrible choice to make, but my partner would win out every time, though allowing an animal to die because of that would haunt me.