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Those of us who have been caregiver to more than one dog (or cat) at a time probably have witnessed the extraordinary bonding that often occurs among animals living together.
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Certainly this is true of my two current dogs, Tina and Chance who have been together about six years. (I rescued Chance in 2007 when he was ten years old, after already having Tina since 1997 when she was approximately two-years-old).
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Chance is now 16 and Tina at least 18-years-old.
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But, the two and half mile walks to and from Harlem Meer in Central Park have become too much for Tina over the past six months or so. Though now on medication for aging joints and doing remarkably well, it doesn't mean Tina has been restored to the vigor and strength of youth.
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I am simply relieved and grateful that Tina can now go up and down stairs with ease and enjoy a walk around the neighborhood.
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Chance, on the other hand is still more than capable of the two mile walks and appears to enjoy them.
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So, sometimes I take Chance with me to Harlem Meer and leave Tina at home (which she seems OK with).
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But, the fascinating thing is that when arriving home with Chance, Tina rushes to the door to first greet Chance -- and then me!
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Aside from the slap to ego for the fact my older dog values her dog companion over the human actually caring for and feeding her, I am reminded of the deep bond many animals form with each other -- even dogs who are noted for their loyalty and devotion to their humans.
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No question either of Chance's deep devotion and love for Tina. Indeed, the two dogs are never more than a few feet from each other (usually somewhere around my feet).
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Indeed, I fear the day I lose one dog and still have the other.
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But, such bonding is not unique to either dogs or cats.
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It also exists in the world of ducks and geese.
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Over the past few weeks, I have noted that the four domestic ducks at Harlem Meer have taken to usually roosting at the south western portion of the lake. (They have been moving about much since the summer ended.)
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So, when going to the Meer the other night (with Chance) I went to the embankment at the south side first.
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Surprisingly though, the domestics were back roosting near the Dana Center to the north part of the lake. (Probably because there weren't many mallards there the other night. The domestics are somewhat annoyed with the recent surge in mallard activity at the Meer).
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Their keen eyesight however meant they could see me and my Pomeranian from across the lake.
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Immediately, Conner, Carol and Connie left the grassy patch near the Dana Center to swim across the lake and greet me.
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But, Cochise (who is often a little slower and lazier than the other three) stubbornly remained behind.
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The three "barnyard" ducks arrived squawking, waddling up to and begging me for some treats.
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But, after swooping up only a few morsels of cracked corn, all three ducks suddenly looked around and noticed Cochise was not with them!
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More squawking.
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But, this time, one imagines the conversation to be different:
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"Hey, come on, guys, we gotta go back and get the lazy one!"
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Then, one by one, all three ducks suddenly did an about face, returned to the water and hurriedly swam back to get their chum.
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For her part, Cochise appeared a bit frantic and annoyed on the other side of the lake, pacing back and forth as if questioning why her cohorts suddenly up and left without her? How could they do this to her?
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But, the drama quickly ended as soon as Conner, Connie and Carol returned and the four quackers were once again reunited.
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(OK. One can imagine some squabbling occurring such as, "What's the matter with you? Couldn't you see our treats were here? Why do we always have to come and get you?")
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Within seconds, all four ducks were swimming quickly across the lake and waddling on the embankment to reclaim what they feel is rightfully theirs.
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"OK. We are all here now! Forget the mallards and that one pesky goose! What do you have for us?"
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Feeling sorry for Cochise because she had a rough time, I gave her an extra handful of cracked corn (even though she is the plumpest of the ducks). Cochise has special way of playing with heartstrings -- as she apparently does with her own flock.
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But, the point of this story is to relate the strong bond among these four domestic ducks who, abandoned together almost a year ago, have survived partially due to that intense closeness and devotion to each other. Indeed, a bond that is closer than even the drive for food.
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It is also a bond observed in geese over the years.
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For example, last year when there was a flock of geese temporarily staying at the Meer in the winter.
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One young goose had tendency to often wander away from the gaggle -- a scenario that always resulted in two of his flock mates having to leave the family (usually in the water) to come and "rescue" him on land.
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There was usually a flurry of honking to accompany the retrieval of their straying sibling or offspring.
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"Why do you keep doing this? Don't you know that is the way to fall to a predator or get your head blown off? You need to stay with the FAMILY! All for one and one for all!"
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But, it seemed the headstrong youngster never fully got the message.
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As long as he knew family members would come to reclaim his butt, he seemed to feel a certain liberty and independence to do what he wanted and when.
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Not sure if "Mr. Independence" ever fully learned the rules of goosedom because when temperatures began to warm, the entire family eventually left the Meer.
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But, at least he went with them.
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So, one imagines the lesson in all this to be about bonding and attachment.
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They are not just about humans or even dogs for that matter.
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They are in fact, part of the very survival of many species on the planet, including especially it seems, ducks and geese. -- PCA
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