As humans, we do a lot of funny things. We make up extra time for half the
year and call it daylight savings, but not all of the states or territories do
this. We film ourselves getting hurt and send the video in for thousands of
people to see. And we talk to our animals like they care what we are saying!
Now I'm not saying that any of these things are related, but we live in a world
where we don't think twice about what we are doing and sometimes that’s okay!
I say some stupid things to my animals, I mean 'stupid' in a loving way and
sometimes I know they are laughing at me, deep down. But part of the reason why
I love animals so much is that they don't judge! In fact, these were the words
I said to my mother when I decided I wanted to work with animals when I was
very young - 'Animals don't judge.' No matter what we say or the way we talk to
our animals, they don't mind!
When I say the way we talk to our animals, I guess I mean that everyone has
their way of interacting. Whether we are telling our animals off, teaching
them, feeding them, bathing them or just adoring them, we say things that
sometimes we wouldn't want another person to hear. We tell our animals our
secrets, we gossip, we more often than not - embarrass ourselves regrettably,
in front of them and they still don't mind!
So the things I often say to my animals are not so much in the words, but in
the affection. I love all of my animals and even those that aren't mine - to
death! I love all animals equally and that is something I can absolutely say,
because they are easy to love unconditionally for all of the reasons I have
mentioned.
For all of my dogs, over all of the years, I have given each one a different
‘pet’ name, (pardon the pun...): My first friend,
Jacko, I would affectionately call 'My Mate.' I would often say,
'How are you mate' while patting his side, as we sat and watched each other,
squinting at the sun. Another dog, Jacko's son,
Angus, I affectionately call 'My buddy,’ or ‘bud.' 'Saying how are
you bud?' Meanwhile, he waits for an opportunity to lick my face. Another male
dog I have,
Max, I usually call
'Cutie' because he's not much of a mate or a buddy, but a pal I can snuggle up
to and kiss and cuddle, without too much growling... Another male dog,
Patch, we had many names for -
including ‘Squiddy,’ ‘Squidga Wod??’ and ‘Batchy batch,’ but he was my ‘fella.’
With the female dogs, they have had more random names, not so much
brotherhood terms, but most of them are nicknamed after inanimate objects or just
plain old gibberish - mostly just because they react to it. One girl,
Abbie, I often call ‘Biscuit’ - (From ‘Ab-isicuit...’)
and she really seems to like that. I call
Chloe,
‘Clo-boof,’ because dad got tongue tied one day, but I also call her ‘My Girl,’
because she was the first puppy I ever picked out.
Jessie was known as ‘Jessie girl’ or ‘Agro.’ Another girl,
Minnie, I called ‘Minnie-moo,’ which
isn't so original, but I was young... Then I have
Jenna, whom is famously known as ‘Jenny, enny, ren, yen,’ or ‘Icket.’
Mindy was famously ‘Stinker,’ ‘Michelangelo
Alexander,’ ‘Mouse’ or ‘Mindy mouse...’ but I called her ‘Mousey.’
My cockatiel,
Peatree, gets, ‘Tree-tritty-trit-bug,’
‘Tritter,’ ‘Treeter,’ ‘Treeter pea,’ ‘Tritter pie,’ ‘Whip Bird’ and ‘Mr. Whippy’
or ‘Whip whip.’
But with the other animals, it’s not so much their names, but the way I talk
to their character, that sets my ways in stone. My python
Adam, I tell him how gorgeous he is, often ask very kindly, how he
is, if he enjoyed his sleep and if I may move his water bowl, while he rears up
at me. If he bites I say, ‘Ah well, okay then.’ I then throw my hands in the
air and pretty much tell him I love him and check him, then leave. My other
python,
Phylis, (Which dad named
after my nana...) I inform her of her beauty, her cuteness and I also ask if I
may move her water bowl and if she approves of my scent.
Any other animals I have had, I usually just mimic, tell them how lovely
they are and we sometimes share a joke or two. I have told the fish where
another is hiding and sent the signal for the other to run. If an animal has
hurt me or is in trouble I make sure they are okay, then tell them they have
spirit or strength. Then I always thank them for the experience. Yes I might
sound a little excessive, but they don't mind and they don't judge! Plus I bet
I’m not the only one!
I love my animals so much and they constantly surprise me.
But all of my pets have usually listened to a beyond, affectionate, 'Hey
You!'
KK
