Are Today’s Humans Starved of Animal Interaction?

I’m sitting at a Cafe´ in Maleny trying to get my books done, but am continuously distracted by the scaly looking small lizard sitting a few metres away from me.  At this particular Cafe´, these little lizards (Water Dragons) are frequently lazing about near the tables, and I am rather amused by people’s reactions as they walk by. 

I have been here 10 minutes, and nearly every person has stopped to talk to these little critters on their way past.  “Hey little buddy! How are you!?” “Are you enjoying that sunshine?” But they don’t just talk to him, they tentatively reach their hands out and try to pat or touch his scaly looking back.  He seems used to it. There’s a lady drinking a milkshake trying to get the lizard to come closer by dropping…milkshake…on the ground near her; nearly every single person acknowledges the lizard.  Some less frequent, but more precious humans, are fashionably distraught at the sight of my little friend.  “Oh my goodness me! They’re prehistoric! They look like dinosaurs! Will he bite?! Will he chase me?! Is he…ALIVE?!”

I wonder if no one was watching whether it would be such a life threatening situation…

Not 20 minutes before, I was finishing up my morning appointment with my client and his gorgeous Akita, called Keeta.  (From having to try and remember 30 odd dog names a week, plus their humans, I LOVE simple names like this one!) 

As Keeta and I walk down the street, people’s faces light up as they pass.  “What a gorgeous doggie!” “So cute…” “Beautiful puppy!”

This situation happens constantly.  Unlike this morning however, it is highly likely to have to ward off strangers from grabbing at and petting the dogs we are working with.  Often we’ll be walking past and people feel compelled to simply reach out and pat our dogs as we walk past.  This can be quite confusing for the dogs when we are training, and I almost always have to be the big bad meanie and ask them to refrain from petting the dog in training. 

It is not uncommon for people to be offended, but I do understand how they feel.  Luckily for me, I have already had such an amazing life with days filled with gorgeous fluffy, cuddly, sometimes smelly, often slobbery, cheeky creatures.  However, on the days and sometimes weeks where I am away from work racing, I miss that interaction.  I miss the smiles they give me, the naughty little licks and the happy, enthusiastic faces.  When I was in Alice Springs for the Finke Desert Race this year, I was eating breakfast in the main street after the event, 2 weeks away from work, and there was someone sitting a few tables over with a Kelpie.  I just sat there looking at it thinking, “Gee, I can’t remember the last time I even considered asking someone if I could pat their dog, but man, puppy cuddles would be the best!”

Then a few weeks ago, I took Storm to get a Green Tea at one of the very few dog friendly cafe´s around, and while I was sitting there working on my laptop on the edge of a busy Mooloolaba street, every person going past had to pat him. Ask how old he is. Tell him he’s gorgeous. And beautiful. 

In the end, I hid him under the table just so I could concentrate on my work. 

Do you ever think, in a world full of social media, online networking, and eyes constantly glued to screens, humans find animals to still be the most approachable, friendly people around?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!