Baby bunny, cat, fox, dog...

....cross species parenting and friendship is always interesting to observe. Enjoy.

Mom cat and bunny:

A dog interacts with two young foxes:

Published this year, 2010, Second Nature: The Inner Lives of Animals, by Jonathan Balcombe is an excellent look at the fact that humans aren't the only beings who communicate, feel emotions and have self-awareness. The author is an animal behaviorist who is vegan for ethical reasons.

He writes about the fact that we human animals have attempted to avoid and/or minimize the similarities and kinship we have with the other animals for way too long. This self imposed blindness is tragic and destructive for all involved. Read the book if you haven't already. For a taste of the contents of the book and an introduction to the author you can listen to an interview he did on NPR's Diane Rehm Show.

Again, if you haven't already stopped harming others, begin your journey as soon as possible, the lives of the innocent depend on it. Assistance is available here

Consciousness raising...........

Here is a video with no violence or grossness and it presents an instance of cross-species caring and nurturing.

I think the video might offer a vehicle by which some feelings of speciesism  could be evoked, and perhaps examined.  Maybe not, I would welcome you putting your reaction in a comment.

An observation......

I have noticed that I find it almost impossible anymore, to watch videos (or even look at pictures) of some of the grotesque things that human animals do to the innocent animals.......early on in my journey I made myself watch Meet Your Meat and other accurate (but graphic and disturbing) reporting of what happens to our sister and brother animal persons.  I can't do it anymore, it hurts too much.

I don't force myself to do so, one of the reasons I let myself off of the hook is that I actively and conscientiously avoid (as far as I know) using animal people for anything at all (except maybe to caress or pet).

Now, I don't quite have the same attitude toward folks that want to not look at the horrible things human animals do to other animals......if.......that person is continuing to use animals for food or other purposes.

There is something inherently wrong and underhanded and pathological even....to me anyway.....with doing something or paying somebody to do something for you and not being willing to witness what you are doing or having done in your name......stuff that is done to get something for your use or your "pleasure". ........This means if you "can't" give up cheese, or drumsticks, or a fur coat, etc. then you are....to my mind.....engaging in self-deception or something worse if you avoid watching "Earthlings" or "Meet Your Meat" or any of the many documentings of the horrors we pretend are necessary or "normal".

You know, I am still not sure it is an acceptable thing for me to avoid watching the atrocities.....
These events, these doings, should evoke horror and tears and pain and deep deep sorrow....if no one watches.....then who feels for the animal people that are being terrorized and hurt and killed?  Who then witness what happens to the nameless and forgotten? 

These obscene and despicable activities are the product and creation of human animals, I am not sure if it is ok for any human animal face to turn away from them for as long as they go on......I don't know.....I have a lot of conflict about this.