A few years ago, I saw a video online that really made me understand just how much human beings could learn from animals.
The video showed (get this) a lion – full-grown lion – allowing a dachshund to clean his teeth.
It was actually amazing to watch.
Apparently the lion came to a zoo in Oklahoma when he was just a cub, and a staff member at the zoo took him home to nurse him. The lion was born with a rare condition that has left him partially disabled.
The staff member had a home full of dachshunds, and the lion essentially grew up surrounded by these hot dog dogs. The giant feline and canines became the best of friends.
The video shows the dachshund licking the lion’s chops (I’m not even kidding about this), and the lion is not only letting the dog do it, but also licking him back.
Keep in mind, the dachshund is a tiny fraction of the lion’s size, and if the lion wanted, he could practically swallow the dog in one gulp.
The lion in the video essentially grew up with the pup, so to the lion, the dog was simply a member of the family, one that the lion wouldn’t harm at all. Good heavens, the lion’s tongue is basically the size of the dachshund and seeing something so huge be so loving to something so much smaller truly is heartwarming.
It was really astonishing.
Think of how many times in your life you’ve known people who can’t even be in the same room together because they just can’t get along. Have you ever had to do a seating chart at a gathering that practically drove you insane making sure everyone at the table would be compatible and not bring about a major disagreement?
I saw a show years ago on Animal Planet where a bird, a snake and a mouse lived in a terrarium together – natural predators getting along and not harming one another.
I’ve heard of animals that nurse the offspring of others, too. I think there was a relatively well-known story a few years ago about a cat who decided to adopt and mother some baby squirrels.
At the shelter, we sometimes take nursing mothers and give them baby kittens who come in motherless to feed. It’s far better for a tiny kitten to get milk from a cat than it is for a human to try to bottle feed the baby. You’d be surprised how simple it is to get the mama cat to accept another little one.
I swear, sometimes, it’s like the cat knows she’s helping a homeless orphan and doesn’t mind sharing. It’s really poignant to watch.
Animals often don’t judge by color or species or any preconceived ideas about one another. Imagine how much different the world would be if people could do the same?
Animals live in the present. They don’t worry about the past or the future or whether or not they should be enemies with one another.
That open-minded lion from the video showed acceptance, tolerance and love for something far different than him.
I have a feeling that benevolent King of the Jungle could teach us all how to truly be kings in this world if we would just take the time to watch.
***
Jennifer Vanderau is the public relations coordinator for the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter and can be reached at [email protected]. The shelter accepts both monetary and pet supply donations. For more information, readers can call the shelter at 717-263-5791 or visit the website www.cvas-pets.org. CVAS also operates a thrift store in Chambersburg. Help support the animals at the shelter by donating to or shopping at the store.
