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Most people think I'm totally slanted towards cats, and while that's true to a certain degree, it doesn't mean I don't like other creatures. In truth, I don't work much with other species, as once you get comfortable with something, you tend to stick with it. I've been working with or studying about cats for 24-years, so I'm in my little rut and I like it there. Put another way, felines and canines are different. So different, in fact, that if you do a cat thing with a wolf, you'll wind up in a world of trouble, and if you do a wolf thing with a cat, you'll probably end up dead. Most wolves, if you look them in the eye, will take it as a challenge, and you'll end up being wolf-food. On the other paw...er...hand, if you don't keep eye-contact with a big cat, it's likely to be a mistake you only get to make once in your lifetime.
So what am I saying? I admire wolves. They have a dignity and grace that's not so different from felines, but yet, /is/. They still hold themselves with poise and have an inner pride that's truly enviable, also like felines, but different. I love working with wolves just like the cats, but having worked with cats for three times as long as wolves, I'm more comfortable with them. When I'm out on a drag with a feline, I don't have to think about everything and how I'm going to react or respond; like driving a car, it all comes naturally to me. With a wolf, I'm a lot more sensitive, as a mess-up while out for a run can mean injury for handler, or animal, or both, which is not good for anyone.
Anyway, this is Athena. She was a wonderful wolf. She was really serious about the whole muzzle greeting thing. In fact, if you didn't let her muzzle-greet with you, you'd offend her horribly. Not good! Angry wuff = Good way to get bitten! Of course, muzzle greeting is a wolf thing, and when in Rome... It's like any country's customs on Earth: you need to be aware of the different customs and protocols, otherwise you might upset someone. Your actions with animals can be the same way. When with a wolf, always do the things they expect, and chances are, you'll be fine.
Athena left this life behind in June '06. She will be fondly remembered as a wolf that always loved to meet new people - and scare the snot out of them with those big wuff teefies! - and she was a monument to her kind, an Ambassador to Wolves, and all who met her left just a little brighter, and just a little more dignified.
Wolves are a species that are the epitome of teamwork and family, cooperation and belonging, and I think that humanity as a whole could learn an awful lot from the wolves. I know I learned a lot from Athena.
Disclaimer: I hate to have to put this on here, but the pic is copyright me. Please do not distribute, copy, alter, etc, without my permission. Having said all that, feel free to download and use it for your own inspiration.
So what am I saying? I admire wolves. They have a dignity and grace that's not so different from felines, but yet, /is/. They still hold themselves with poise and have an inner pride that's truly enviable, also like felines, but different. I love working with wolves just like the cats, but having worked with cats for three times as long as wolves, I'm more comfortable with them. When I'm out on a drag with a feline, I don't have to think about everything and how I'm going to react or respond; like driving a car, it all comes naturally to me. With a wolf, I'm a lot more sensitive, as a mess-up while out for a run can mean injury for handler, or animal, or both, which is not good for anyone.
Anyway, this is Athena. She was a wonderful wolf. She was really serious about the whole muzzle greeting thing. In fact, if you didn't let her muzzle-greet with you, you'd offend her horribly. Not good! Angry wuff = Good way to get bitten! Of course, muzzle greeting is a wolf thing, and when in Rome... It's like any country's customs on Earth: you need to be aware of the different customs and protocols, otherwise you might upset someone. Your actions with animals can be the same way. When with a wolf, always do the things they expect, and chances are, you'll be fine.
Athena left this life behind in June '06. She will be fondly remembered as a wolf that always loved to meet new people - and scare the snot out of them with those big wuff teefies! - and she was a monument to her kind, an Ambassador to Wolves, and all who met her left just a little brighter, and just a little more dignified.
Wolves are a species that are the epitome of teamwork and family, cooperation and belonging, and I think that humanity as a whole could learn an awful lot from the wolves. I know I learned a lot from Athena.
Disclaimer: I hate to have to put this on here, but the pic is copyright me. Please do not distribute, copy, alter, etc, without my permission. Having said all that, feel free to download and use it for your own inspiration.
Category Photography / Animal related (non-anthro)
Species Wolf
Size 1024 x 682px
File Size 60.2 kB
Unfortunately, that's the sad part about working with animals; they don't live nearly as long as we do.
It's kind of one of those bitter-sweet things. There are some truly priceless moments with them. They will burn brightly forever in your memories, and last you for a lifetime. By the same token, when is comes time to say goodbye to those friends, those memories can haunt for a while. Even for things not so permanent, the "bads" that happen along the way make the "good" that much more so. In the end though, perhaps after a time of mourning, you will reflect back on all those bright memories, and the painful ones don't hurt so bad anymore. They all meld together, and you can reflect back fondly, and know that through all those experiences - good and bad - your life was made so much richer by knowing them, than had you never met.
Athena, like so many other animals that I've known (and dare I say "loved"), was a one-of-a-kind, and I was truly honored to have known her.
Sorry to get all philosophical on you there. :)
It's kind of one of those bitter-sweet things. There are some truly priceless moments with them. They will burn brightly forever in your memories, and last you for a lifetime. By the same token, when is comes time to say goodbye to those friends, those memories can haunt for a while. Even for things not so permanent, the "bads" that happen along the way make the "good" that much more so. In the end though, perhaps after a time of mourning, you will reflect back on all those bright memories, and the painful ones don't hurt so bad anymore. They all meld together, and you can reflect back fondly, and know that through all those experiences - good and bad - your life was made so much richer by knowing them, than had you never met.
Athena, like so many other animals that I've known (and dare I say "loved"), was a one-of-a-kind, and I was truly honored to have known her.
Sorry to get all philosophical on you there. :)
It's the biggest downsite to working at such a facility. Invariably, you'll get very close to a lot of them, as if you spend a few years at the same place, you'll lose a few along the length of time.
It can be very hard - like with Dagger - but then, there's also all the profoundly uplifting moments, like the walks and stuff, when you're with them, and them with you, and it's all worth it.
There's some really low, "lows". That's the truth. But they make the "highs" all the more uplifting. Can't have "good" without "bad". The trick is cherishing all the good times, and it's always true that there've been more "good" times than "bad".
It can be very hard - like with Dagger - but then, there's also all the profoundly uplifting moments, like the walks and stuff, when you're with them, and them with you, and it's all worth it.
There's some really low, "lows". That's the truth. But they make the "highs" all the more uplifting. Can't have "good" without "bad". The trick is cherishing all the good times, and it's always true that there've been more "good" times than "bad".
In my experience, is never gets easier. On the other paw, perhaps it is just a fact of life: they so very much enrich our lives, and take us to such lofty highs, but eventually, all mortal beings must pass form this life to whatever lies beyond. So it is a burden, but still, a blessing and honor to have know them for a short time.
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