Would I like to Be an Animal? If So, Which One Would I Be?

Horses, strong, loyal, and beautiful

This one has many options. I love all of God's creatures, though I am very fond of several animals that I have never even touched, I also love several species that I have owned and rescued and adopted out to new forever homes. 


Many of you know that I have done pet rescue for many years, and in doing so, I once was involved in the rescue of more than three hundred Potbellied Pigs. I learned a lot from and about these magnificent creatures. Pigs are one of the most intelligent animals on the planet. Only chimpanzees, dolphins and whales, and elephants are more intelligent than pigs. Dogs are quite a ways behind pigs when it comes to being smart and/or intelligence. Pigs can understand several hundred words, and can think and calculate how to get something they want, even if it's inside your refrigerator. They can easily be taught many "tricks" too. Anything that it is possible for their body to do, they can do. 

Rescued Potbellied Pig

I bottle-fed and raised more than one hundred of these wonderful creatures, most from tiny piglets that were at risk of being trampled by other larger pigs, that were over crowded and unaccustomed to humans touching them. They were fed, watered, and that was about it, as the man who had the three hundred Potbellied Pigs, was in his seventies, and simply unable to handle it all. All of the pigs were intact, and were multiplying out of control. Once they were fenced in and males and females separated, and tiny babies along with their mothers were put into individual pens, things began to take shape for the surgical desexing, treatment for parasites, and vaccinations.


When I began taking home tiny babies, and hand raising them, I quickly learned how intelligent they really are. Did you know that a tiny baby Potbellied Pig trains itself to use a litter box within minutes to a couple of hours when enclosed in a confined area? They learn their name very quickly, and love to cuddle and be cuddled. They are very fast learners indeed. If you have ever seen photos of so called "Tea Cup" pigs, or as some sell them as, "Micro Mini Pigs," be assured that those babies are only one to maybe three days old. They will eventually grow up to be from 100 to even 200 pounds in weight, and be about the height of a large Pit Bull or Rotty.

Miniature horse mare
cares for her young by
instinct.

Chimpanzees, whales, dolphins and elephants are the only other animals which are more intelligent than pigs.


I realize I still haven't answered this Plinky Prompt, for it is really not an easy one for me to answer. I love horses for their regal stance, and their athletic ability. I love donkeys or burros as they are called in Spanish. They are smarter than horses, and can really be very stubborn, especially if they are overloaded with more than they should be carrying, or sense danger in their path. Otherwise, donkeys are loving and cooperative little beasts. I know, I had one, and she "Gobi," was such a love.


I have also had goats, which I also adore. They are kind gentle creatures that can produce the most delicious milk that can be used to make great cheese and ice cream, too. Goats are much easier to care for than a cow, and are much cheaper to feed, too. The milk goats we had were such loving animals, though they could play rough with each other, butting heads and such. They loved being brushed and even being bathed, too. They each took their proper turn at milking time, and were gentle when it was time to be gentle. 

Burro or
donkey

Domestic goats and sheep

You must realize that most of the animals I have talked about so far, are considered prey animals. So, that being said, when they feel threatened, they will bolt and run as fast and as far as their legs can carry them. That includes horses, pigs, goats, and even dogs. Donkeys, on the other hand, while they will try to escape danger, they are certainly no coward when it comes to defending themselves, or other animals in their herd. Donkeys also make for very good "watch dogs." If someone they do not accept as part of their herd arrives, they will let everyone know. They have a very loud "bray," that can be heard far and wide. 


I don't think I really need to say a lot about our magnificent and intelligent sea creatures. Anyone who has watch them perform, whether live in some huge aquarium, or loose and wild in the open sea, they know how wonderfully intelligent they are. From dolphins to the largest whales in the sea, they are highly intelligent, and bond for life with other members of their pod or family. Those in captivity also often bond with their handlers in many cases. 

Orca Whales also know as Killer Whales are often
trained or conditioned to perform for human entertainment

The same goes for elephants. They are very loving towards their family members and even mourn the death of others in their family, for many years. I'm sure you have seen documentaries that show elephants examining the bones of long dead friends and family members in the wild. Elephants which were once friends, and who may have been separated for many years, readily recognize and bond again with their old friend when reunited. Elephants also bond closely to kind caretakers who have taken care, fed and bathed them for years. 

Family of Chimpanzees during family grooming time

Chimpanzees are also on the list of highly intelligent creatures. They too, are fiercely loyal to members of their own clan. They are loving and caring parents, be they mother, father, aunt or uncle or cousin.  Just as in many families. squabbles happen from time to time, but they still care about each other. Chimps also know when they see their own reflection in water or mirror, they recognize themselves. 


I don't think I can really answer this question as to what animal I might like to be.  Maybe I would like to be a horse, running free and wild. Running over hills and grazing peacefully in fields of clover and wildflowers. I would be bathing in rivers of crystal clear water, and climbing hills to look over the surrounding valleys. Imagine, running in a herd of wild horses, escaping wolves who are out for a kill. Worse yet, imagine trying to escape humans who herd wild mustangs into pens which trap them, and feed them food which they are not accustomed to eating. Changing the diet of an equine rapidly can cause colic, which is life threatening to horses. If left untreated, causes a slow and extremely painful death. 

Draft Horses grazing

While considering this question, I know though I love and appreciate the animals that God has created, but mankind was God's special creation.  Only mankind has the ability to reflect God's attributes, and to think about why we are here in the first place, Only humans can give honor to our Creator verbally, and thoughtfully, even in writing and though literature and videos.  Only mankind knows that he has a creator, while animals are beautiful and show the ingenious design and love shown by God the Creator.  He and he alone has the power to create living things, things that are instilled with the ability and instinct to know what they should eat, and how to care for their young.  

Old typewriter

Antique car

Mankind has many innate abilities, such as thinking, reasoning, ability to love, and to recognize that he had to be created.  Mankind also has the ability to think about the things God has created, and to learn from those things, in order to use them to his advantage, and construct buildings, landscapes, bridges made of steel and concrete, as well as fashion automobile, bicycles, and even flying machines to transport people and things around the world, as well as into space.

God created living things that flew first

Man learned from
God creation to design
aircraft, ships, etc

 Only mankind can reflect God's glory, albeit in a very small way.  While animals and inanimate objects show the wonder of God's designs, only mankind was made in "God's image,"  with the ability to show "love, justice, wisdom and power," in a more limited way. 


There are good sides as well as bad to being any animal, even more so when man steps into the equation. Not every human considers the possible ramifications of his or her actions.


I would not really choose to be an animal after all, because if I were an animal, I could not thank my Creator and my God for all of the wonders he has created and provided for humans to use and enjoy.  I could not tell anyone all of the the things God has in store for people who really love and appreciate his blessings.  I am very grateful for the fact that God made humans with a thinking brain, that allows us to learn more about him.  I want to please God well, and obey his commandments just as any child should love, respect and obey his or her parents.


http://www.watchtower.org
http://www.jw.org