A Sentience Article from All-Creatures.org

When is the Last Time You Really Listened?

From Indraloka Animal Sanctaury
July 2023

How amazing is it that a child can have connected so well with a goat in just a few days to have noticed a change in his behavior? How much more empathetic will this young boy be with others in his life, outside of camp?

Despite the heat, 50 children eagerly rushed outside every day last week to play with new friends and spend time with the animals. There is nothing more delightful than the sounds of their squeals and laughter, knowing that the connections they made this week will last a lifetime.

So many new children are participating in camp this year. Thanks to the support of our community, camps have more than doubled in size since re-opening in 2021. And despite the rising costs of everything, the registration cost is still low and many scholarships have been awarded.

These children make lasting friendships (human and non-human), experience new and delicious healthy foods, and spend a full week disconnected from the distractions of technology. Many have shared deep connections with the animals, even being intuitive enough to notice when something seems wrong.

Our beloved goat Oliver hasn’t handled this week’s high temperatures as well as his friends. One of the children noticed that he was acting oddly—standing in a corner with his head pressed against the wall. He quickly alerted a counselor who was able to get help for Oliver right away. We evaluated him—took his temperature, assessed him for proper hydration and offered his favorite treats. He was just hot—nothing very wrong. Indeed it was a hot day.

But how amazing is it that a child can have connected so well with a goat in just a few days to have noticed a change in his behavior? How much more empathetic will this young boy be with others in his life, outside of camp?

Empathy and understanding are powerful emotions. How often do we, as humans, just want someone to hear us? To listen? To say they understand? And yet, how hard do we find it to do just that—listen…hear…understand… Our world is so fraught with conflict. A difference of opinion or thought can turn violent in moments. What would happen if we truly heard each other, connected, and then sought to help before we insert our own needs and ideas? How much more would we learn about others? How much more would we learn about ourselves?

If you’ve never tried to truly understand another being, may I encourage you to try? And if you’re feeling misunderstood, know that there’s the friendly ear of a pig who’d be happy to listen in exchange for a belly rub.  

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