Sasha -What a sweet article about the affliction you shared with the great Jane Goodall! I confess to being able to kill spiders and vermin, but appreciate domestic pets and have been learning more about animal intelligence.
Thank you for the pleasant diversion from our bitter political scene.
I don't kill spiders because they eat a lot of little bug type vermin. I had one that lived in a little hole by the kitchen sink for years before it disappeared. Probably aged out. Called her Shelob.
Some animals spread disease like rats and cockroaches. No problem killing them. Grew up on a farm so understand the circle of life. David Attenburough (sp) did some documentary on chimpanzees and it included how they hunt the smaller monkeys. Scariest shit I've ever seen. It is what it is. People that abuse animals are a different story. Just like people that abuse children (I would have no compunctions on slaughtering either in the most painful ways). I have no problem with ASPCA, but PETA people are whacked. Kill disease spreading vermin, and if you hunt eat what you kill and kill it humanely. If you want to be a vegan go for it, but don't wear leather or partake in anything that benefits from the use of an animal or you're a hypocrite. I'm sure Jane Goodall and Diane Fossey are good human beings. Just don't be a whack job.
I watched every single documentary regarding Jane more than once. I wanted to BE Jane.
I laughed at what you wrote about your love of animals. I'm right there with you, minus mice & rats. My undying love is for cats/kittens. I've taken it to new heights.
I have always been called The Cat Whisperer, particularly with feral cats. I found where my love of cats is genetic, or so I tell myself. I came VERY close to writing a book telling my personal stories of what feral cats TAUGHT me.
In my book, I was going to end it with story. My father had a mom cat bring a kitten. He fed them, then they left. One day, the mom brought the kitten, then left it. He named it Bingo. Bingo and my dad were so bonded.
Bingo NEVER, EVER meowed once in his life. When my dad was dying of cancer and died at 3am, Bingo went into the hallway and HOWLED SO LOUDLY it woke up everyone. That's how they knew my dad died.
Bingo died about a month later. No doubt, he died of grief.
My children and grandchildren laugh at me a little when I carry spiders outside rather than squash them. Had a chipmonk in my house for several days before I could herd it out the door using a cardboard chute. On the other hand, I was asked to shoot someone's pet that was suffering, and I did that. Guess we can't save the world, but do what we can.
When I was in college 50 years ago we gave out little awards at the end of the year. I received a homemade “Save the Worms” bumper sticker. To this day I don’t think I’ve ever walked by a worm on wet pavement without putting him back in the grass.
I have always put down my own pets. It's the least you owe them, but, yeah, it's hard. I've had neighbors ask me to do it for them. I refuse. I'll loan you the gun. I'll dig you a grave. But you gotta pull the trigger. You owe it to an animal you love
Demonic is the word. I still am hot with fury when I go back and think about it. I have an auto-immune disease, so I was never going to get the vaccine. My husband of 35 years, who was fighting cancer, was either in the hospital or at a nursing facility, for many months. The nursing facilities would only allow my son and I to see him for a short time, through an open window. And for the hospital, my son and I had to have a negative, cultured (not the drugstore test) COVID test each day. Taking the tests always took a long time, with so many people in line. Some days, the testing sites were closed or there were too many people in line, so no tests. When it was apparent he was getting to the end, I said to the nurses "My and my son's tests are negative today. We aren't leaving here to get a new one tomorrow. We're staying in his room, with visits to the restroom and to get some food in the food court. Security will have to drag us out". They were cool with it, since we stuck by the rules for so many months. We took turns sleeping on the roll away bed they brought in and the window seat that was in the room, for the 4 days.
I still cry over it. And right after, I got very sick over the stress of it all and others things that I won't go into here. And I'm fine with an AI meme putting a sombrero on Minority leader Jefferies' head and words in Schumer's mouth. They deserve SO SO much more in way of punishment. But I'm realizing that God is still with me and really caring for myself and my children and my country, is the best payback.
October 4, the feast day for St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment. Pleased to see that Italy has restored the Saint Francis of Assisi feast day to national holiday status. Requiescat in pace Jane Goodall.
I don’t necessarily call it an affliction, Sasha. Rather, I like to tell people that I believe God loves all of his creation. And that as humans, we are called to stewardship. And that I am likely uniquely sensitive to animal welfare (especially for a country girl!)
I met Jane, years ago. She was a really neat person.
Totally agree, but spiders, ants, mosquitoes, have to go, for my health and sanity - but I do apologize to God every time. (well, most every time, sometimes I forget).
Yes, some people absolutely need it. Drove me crazy that my husband needed it all the time and I did better with just occasional meat in my diet, until I read the "Eat Right 4 Your Blood Type" and it all made sense.
Yes, I love shellfish too (and all fish, but stay away from the larger fish because they have more mercury, etc.), it's just not supposed to be "beneficial" for type "A".
You can tell a lot about a person by watching how animals react to them. Dogs in particular seem to instinctively know people who will treat them with love and kindness.
I can relate. Years ago when I took my very old dog in to the vet, a resident cat took a liking to me, jumped up and wrapped itself around my neck, shoulders and arms. I was a raging red mess within 20 minutes. It was a very nice cat, but underlined why I have only had dogs.
It is becoming less difficult to identify the hypocrisy of those who will attempt to compare themselves to someone else. And then they mindlessly and weakly think it makes them a better human. The left live this way, always, no exceptions, and I will have no empathy(think of cockroaches or spiders) to step on them. I will never forget or forgive the left. My mother being locked in a facility which I could not visit her except thru a window because of the covid bullshit. "Why doesn't my family come visit me?" And the sadness in her face, do think zoom works for a 90 year old? Fuck all the demonrats and may they die a lonely, long painful death.
Bless Jane Goodall, I felt she played along to get along with the left, just a good soul with far higher intentions and clear thoughts.
I have spent my adult life seeking to understand both sides, but after Charlie Kirk was assassinated and then leftists began trashing him, claiming he was racist and that he was spreading hate, I too have reached a "turning point " of my own. The Left is irredeemable. No more Ms nice guy.
Life outside in a city is a dangerous jungle for cats. Not only are there dogs, hawks, owls, coyotes, and cars that threaten them, there are countless viruses that cause them great misery and death. They are safest inside , but happiest going out. Unfortunately they are also a major threat to songbird populations, . I will not own one for those reasons.
Thank you for that, Sasha. I almost didn't read it because of all tree-hugger stuff attached to Jane's name.
I was the only animal lover in my family. I skipped all the usual books that all my classmates were reading, but devoured every animal book in the library: London, Seton, Terhune, Farley, O'Brien, Mowat, Jean George, etc. I watched all the nature shows, too, remember Marty Stouffer's Wild America?
I grew up, married, and haven't been without an animal since. I remove most insects that come into my home (not ants or roaches), have ejected snakes from my chicken run unharmed (venomous snakes excluded), and try to appreciate all of God's creatures.
My children are grown. Earlier this week I saw my adult son catch a cricket and take it outside. It did my heart good.
Regarding writers about animals: The original book "Bambi" was written in 1923 by Felix Salten. It is not a child's story. It takes place in a forest, and all the animals can speak to each other, and have differing personalities. (This is called "anthropomorphism" BTW. It is often mocked by more sophisticated people than me, but in this book, it works.)
Their greatest fear is the hunter, who is referred to as "He". The story describes how hard life is for animals in the wild, and there is tragedy as well as joy.
I was probably 10 or 11 when I first read it, and it forever solidified my love and sympathy for animals and my passion to save and protect them in any way I can. I still re-read it now and then, and my copy is very old and well-worn.
I too have more love for animals than people. I can’t stand to even see those uplifting videos off abused and starving and rescued animals who have found a loving person.
I do not rescue spiders or ants however inside my house. And my charitable giving is for veterans and animals. I take cat food to the food bank at our church because as I had to inform an idiot worker there who complained I only bring for cats not dogs that dogs will eat anything but cats are particular, in the mocking her English accent of course
I think any human who abuses an animal should be summarily executed, as well as anyone who raises their dogs to fight.
Yes, some English accents are insufferably arrogant and condescending sounding. If a book is read by that kind of English accent (and over all, I really like English accents), I can't keep listening to it...and I just lost my money on that book!
LOL. I just watched a recent Scottish detective series and one of the detectives was English and a person they were talking to introduced him to their friend, saying "He's English" and the friend said "Well, I'm sorry and I don't know the person you're asking about".
I loved reading this about you. I so can relate. I absolutely cannot watch/listen to the animal rescue commercials with Sarah McGlaughlins song. It wrecks me for the rest of the day. I do eat meat. I just can’t look at those trucks going by filled with the meat I’m about to eat. I can watch them graze in the fields and always whisper a little thank you/prayer in my head. Any animal lover is a friend of mine. Even the really hardened ones who work in rescue. I’ve worked with a few. They don’t like people.
An affectionate tribute for a person I did not know nor follow. But you brought her to life, and your article resurrects the kindnesses —e.g., your parents' kinship with animals —that we all aspire to but too often terribly miss the mark. Don't be too hard on yourself, Sasha; your fan club adores you just the way you are.
Sasha -What a sweet article about the affliction you shared with the great Jane Goodall! I confess to being able to kill spiders and vermin, but appreciate domestic pets and have been learning more about animal intelligence.
Thank you for the pleasant diversion from our bitter political scene.
I don't kill spiders because they eat a lot of little bug type vermin. I had one that lived in a little hole by the kitchen sink for years before it disappeared. Probably aged out. Called her Shelob.
Sasha, you're a sweetheart! 💕
I used to kill spiders. I decided to research a couple of them and found they were helpful for plants and roses, so I quit killing them.
Mice and rats are way different. I'm terrified of rats.
Some animals spread disease like rats and cockroaches. No problem killing them. Grew up on a farm so understand the circle of life. David Attenburough (sp) did some documentary on chimpanzees and it included how they hunt the smaller monkeys. Scariest shit I've ever seen. It is what it is. People that abuse animals are a different story. Just like people that abuse children (I would have no compunctions on slaughtering either in the most painful ways). I have no problem with ASPCA, but PETA people are whacked. Kill disease spreading vermin, and if you hunt eat what you kill and kill it humanely. If you want to be a vegan go for it, but don't wear leather or partake in anything that benefits from the use of an animal or you're a hypocrite. I'm sure Jane Goodall and Diane Fossey are good human beings. Just don't be a whack job.
** Standing ovation **
I kill all bugs except spiders. I don't kill spiders because spiders eat all the bad bugs
I’ve known several people bitten by brown recluse spiders. If you encounter one of them, kill it.
I watched every single documentary regarding Jane more than once. I wanted to BE Jane.
I laughed at what you wrote about your love of animals. I'm right there with you, minus mice & rats. My undying love is for cats/kittens. I've taken it to new heights.
I have always been called The Cat Whisperer, particularly with feral cats. I found where my love of cats is genetic, or so I tell myself. I came VERY close to writing a book telling my personal stories of what feral cats TAUGHT me.
In my book, I was going to end it with story. My father had a mom cat bring a kitten. He fed them, then they left. One day, the mom brought the kitten, then left it. He named it Bingo. Bingo and my dad were so bonded.
Bingo NEVER, EVER meowed once in his life. When my dad was dying of cancer and died at 3am, Bingo went into the hallway and HOWLED SO LOUDLY it woke up everyone. That's how they knew my dad died.
Bingo died about a month later. No doubt, he died of grief.
My formerly feral cat is currently doing everything in his power to distract me from this computer. His methods are very effective.
Isn't it thrilling to be able to say "formerly"??
Yes. My husband and I had decided to be catless the rest of our lives. But, God had other ideas.
We are very blessed.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
You should write the book, MyOpinion!
I came VERY CLOSE to doing it! I had a full-time career and would have had to travel outside of work to promote it.
I'll tell another personal story that blew my mind!! I was STUNNED.
What is that other story?
I posted it.
Where?
I'm going to have to find it. It might be a different thread. I'll look.
My children and grandchildren laugh at me a little when I carry spiders outside rather than squash them. Had a chipmonk in my house for several days before I could herd it out the door using a cardboard chute. On the other hand, I was asked to shoot someone's pet that was suffering, and I did that. Guess we can't save the world, but do what we can.
I don’t do spiders but I do rescue worms from the sidewalk after it rains and throw them back in the grass or flower beds. Weird I know
Not weird at all. Worms are our friend.
When I was in college 50 years ago we gave out little awards at the end of the year. I received a homemade “Save the Worms” bumper sticker. To this day I don’t think I’ve ever walked by a worm on wet pavement without putting him back in the grass.
I have always put down my own pets. It's the least you owe them, but, yeah, it's hard. I've had neighbors ask me to do it for them. I refuse. I'll loan you the gun. I'll dig you a grave. But you gotta pull the trigger. You owe it to an animal you love
Good point. Also if we as pet owners hava an animal euthanized by a veteranarian, I believe we should be there with them if possible.
Yes. Covid protocols were demonic
Demonic is the word. I still am hot with fury when I go back and think about it. I have an auto-immune disease, so I was never going to get the vaccine. My husband of 35 years, who was fighting cancer, was either in the hospital or at a nursing facility, for many months. The nursing facilities would only allow my son and I to see him for a short time, through an open window. And for the hospital, my son and I had to have a negative, cultured (not the drugstore test) COVID test each day. Taking the tests always took a long time, with so many people in line. Some days, the testing sites were closed or there were too many people in line, so no tests. When it was apparent he was getting to the end, I said to the nurses "My and my son's tests are negative today. We aren't leaving here to get a new one tomorrow. We're staying in his room, with visits to the restroom and to get some food in the food court. Security will have to drag us out". They were cool with it, since we stuck by the rules for so many months. We took turns sleeping on the roll away bed they brought in and the window seat that was in the room, for the 4 days.
Bravo!
Heartbreaking. I don’t know if I could have survived losing my dear husband that way.
I still cry over it. And right after, I got very sick over the stress of it all and others things that I won't go into here. And I'm fine with an AI meme putting a sombrero on Minority leader Jefferies' head and words in Schumer's mouth. They deserve SO SO much more in way of punishment. But I'm realizing that God is still with me and really caring for myself and my children and my country, is the best payback.
October 4, the feast day for St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment. Pleased to see that Italy has restored the Saint Francis of Assisi feast day to national holiday status. Requiescat in pace Jane Goodall.
https://x.com/mariah116319213/status/1974457419662340592
I don’t necessarily call it an affliction, Sasha. Rather, I like to tell people that I believe God loves all of his creation. And that as humans, we are called to stewardship. And that I am likely uniquely sensitive to animal welfare (especially for a country girl!)
I met Jane, years ago. She was a really neat person.
Totally agree, but spiders, ants, mosquitoes, have to go, for my health and sanity - but I do apologize to God every time. (well, most every time, sometimes I forget).
I don't think i could fuel my body without meat
Yes, some people absolutely need it. Drove me crazy that my husband needed it all the time and I did better with just occasional meat in my diet, until I read the "Eat Right 4 Your Blood Type" and it all made sense.
Interesting. I don't even know my blood type. I think it has to do physical exertion. I farm, so lots of hard work. Butcher my own hogs and chickens.
Type O is more "hunter/gatherer", type A is more "pescatarian" (without shell fish, just regular fish) and I can't remember what type AB is.
That's weird ... I am A+ and couldn't live without shellfish! (well, at least wouldn't want to).
Yes, I love shellfish too (and all fish, but stay away from the larger fish because they have more mercury, etc.), it's just not supposed to be "beneficial" for type "A".
You can tell a lot about a person by watching how animals react to them. Dogs in particular seem to instinctively know people who will treat them with love and kindness.
My cat seems specifically attracted to guests who have cat allergies.
I can relate. Years ago when I took my very old dog in to the vet, a resident cat took a liking to me, jumped up and wrapped itself around my neck, shoulders and arms. I was a raging red mess within 20 minutes. It was a very nice cat, but underlined why I have only had dogs.
Today is Saint Francis of Assisi’s feast day; among other things, he is known for his care of animals.
Jane Goodall was a gift to this world. Yes, she will be missed.
It is becoming less difficult to identify the hypocrisy of those who will attempt to compare themselves to someone else. And then they mindlessly and weakly think it makes them a better human. The left live this way, always, no exceptions, and I will have no empathy(think of cockroaches or spiders) to step on them. I will never forget or forgive the left. My mother being locked in a facility which I could not visit her except thru a window because of the covid bullshit. "Why doesn't my family come visit me?" And the sadness in her face, do think zoom works for a 90 year old? Fuck all the demonrats and may they die a lonely, long painful death.
Bless Jane Goodall, I felt she played along to get along with the left, just a good soul with far higher intentions and clear thoughts.
"I will never forget or forgive the left. "
I have spent my adult life seeking to understand both sides, but after Charlie Kirk was assassinated and then leftists began trashing him, claiming he was racist and that he was spreading hate, I too have reached a "turning point " of my own. The Left is irredeemable. No more Ms nice guy.
Allowing unneutered cats to roam freely outdoors is bad for birds and, frankly, bad for the cats, too.
Life outside in a city is a dangerous jungle for cats. Not only are there dogs, hawks, owls, coyotes, and cars that threaten them, there are countless viruses that cause them great misery and death. They are safest inside , but happiest going out. Unfortunately they are also a major threat to songbird populations, . I will not own one for those reasons.
Sounds like this was probably the 70’s… I don’t think anyone was thinking that way then.
Surely the neutered ones hunt too, don’t they?
They do. But it’s my experience that the females are more likely to keep the killer instinct!
Thank you for that, Sasha. I almost didn't read it because of all tree-hugger stuff attached to Jane's name.
I was the only animal lover in my family. I skipped all the usual books that all my classmates were reading, but devoured every animal book in the library: London, Seton, Terhune, Farley, O'Brien, Mowat, Jean George, etc. I watched all the nature shows, too, remember Marty Stouffer's Wild America?
I grew up, married, and haven't been without an animal since. I remove most insects that come into my home (not ants or roaches), have ejected snakes from my chicken run unharmed (venomous snakes excluded), and try to appreciate all of God's creatures.
My children are grown. Earlier this week I saw my adult son catch a cricket and take it outside. It did my heart good.
Regarding writers about animals: The original book "Bambi" was written in 1923 by Felix Salten. It is not a child's story. It takes place in a forest, and all the animals can speak to each other, and have differing personalities. (This is called "anthropomorphism" BTW. It is often mocked by more sophisticated people than me, but in this book, it works.)
Their greatest fear is the hunter, who is referred to as "He". The story describes how hard life is for animals in the wild, and there is tragedy as well as joy.
I was probably 10 or 11 when I first read it, and it forever solidified my love and sympathy for animals and my passion to save and protect them in any way I can. I still re-read it now and then, and my copy is very old and well-worn.
I too have more love for animals than people. I can’t stand to even see those uplifting videos off abused and starving and rescued animals who have found a loving person.
I do not rescue spiders or ants however inside my house. And my charitable giving is for veterans and animals. I take cat food to the food bank at our church because as I had to inform an idiot worker there who complained I only bring for cats not dogs that dogs will eat anything but cats are particular, in the mocking her English accent of course
I think any human who abuses an animal should be summarily executed, as well as anyone who raises their dogs to fight.
Good on you Sasha. Good on you
What's wrong with an English accent?
Well it was in response to her petulant English accent whining every time that I only brought cat food not dog food. I had had enough
Yes, some English accents are insufferably arrogant and condescending sounding. If a book is read by that kind of English accent (and over all, I really like English accents), I can't keep listening to it...and I just lost my money on that book!
Well for starters, it’s not Irish.
LOL. I just watched a recent Scottish detective series and one of the detectives was English and a person they were talking to introduced him to their friend, saying "He's English" and the friend said "Well, I'm sorry and I don't know the person you're asking about".
I’ve been watching The Inspector Lynley Mysteries and liked them. Amazing how the Brits have kept casting the same people for decades.
Yes, there's a rotation of actors that they put in all these shows that we watch here "over the pond".
I loved reading this about you. I so can relate. I absolutely cannot watch/listen to the animal rescue commercials with Sarah McGlaughlins song. It wrecks me for the rest of the day. I do eat meat. I just can’t look at those trucks going by filled with the meat I’m about to eat. I can watch them graze in the fields and always whisper a little thank you/prayer in my head. Any animal lover is a friend of mine. Even the really hardened ones who work in rescue. I’ve worked with a few. They don’t like people.
Mosquitos, ticks, mites, and flies are my “right to kill” critters. B/c, as I reason, they are trying to kill me 😳
And fleas. All bloodsuckers are on my execution list.
And cockroaches (shudder).
Aye on the bloodsuckers.
Though we did used to have pet Madagascar cockroaches, so they get a pass… (of course the household ones are totally different!)
An affectionate tribute for a person I did not know nor follow. But you brought her to life, and your article resurrects the kindnesses —e.g., your parents' kinship with animals —that we all aspire to but too often terribly miss the mark. Don't be too hard on yourself, Sasha; your fan club adores you just the way you are.