A Compassionate Influence

While many stories "use" animals to portray humans or some sort of concept, I think that in many cases the "use" of animals in storytelling can be beneficial or influential for animals themselves and our relations with them.  Timbuktu is a prime example of the impact that deeply portraying the life and mind of an animal can bring to light.  Auster depicts Mr. Bones as more than a companion pet or object; rather, he shows him as an insightful, thoughtful, compassionate, deeply sentimental and perceptive being, all of which allow for the readers to easily connect with him on a deeper level.  I believe that this form of representation totally promotes enhanced relationships with animals and also enhanced treatment and understanding.  Even though certain attributes of Mr. Bones' character are not exactly realistic at times (as far as we know), the amplified persona of his character enables human readers to more vividly connect with him than they (arguably) normally would. If people more vividly understood what it feels like to be surrendered to a shelter or to be raised for slaughter, would they continue to do so? Perhaps literature can play a vital role in getting people to make emotional and personal connections with non-human animals, since storytelling, reading, composing and such are all prominent aspects of our society.

Sometime ago at ACCT (the Animal Care and Control Team of Philadelphia) I heard someone say "it's just a dog" in regards to his friend's worry about the dog's future (who they were surrendering for a behavior issue).  Perhaps if they had known what it felt like, why he or she was behaving the way he/she was, etc., they wouldn't have made the decision to surrender as they did.  Non-human animals, like humans, have their own wishes, desires, interests and needs, and I truly believe that literature may be one (of the many) ways to get people to think about animals in another, more equal and righteous light, as Timbuktu does.