Ever since I was a little girl, I have had a special and instinctual place in my heart for every single creature of the earth (including bugs and reptiles!). I recall a few incidences growing up that made me acutely aware of animals and their needs. I was about 4 years old and found a mass of red ants accumulating on a driveway. Somehow I decided they were in need of food and I ran home and grabbed a carrot, of all things, and scurried back to the ant pile. I laid the carrot down and watched intently as they curiously investigated the foreign object. I remember watching them for a very long time, intrigued by their behaviors and little lives. My maternal instincts were obviously in tact, but my awareness of what their needs actually were were a bit dull. :)
Another pivotal time of awareness toward animals as a young girl was driving with my parents. I looked out the window just in time to see a deer dead on the side of the road. My heart sank, but my naive and creative imagination believed something other than death had found the innocent deer. I don't know why I said what I said, nor do I remember the logic that went through my head when I said it, but it must have been a coping mechanism of self comfort because what came from my little girl lips to my mom and dad in the car was, "It's okay, she's just sleeping. In a little while she'll get up and walk away." I really believed it at the time, like if I could imagine it, it was possible. Well, this attitude of compassion toward animals was also reflected toward domestic pets as well. I recall visiting homes with my family and if they had animals, be it a dog, cat, bird, snake, or bunny, I was glued to this creature for the remainder of our visit. Looking back, I don't even remember who's house we'd gone to, I just remember the Cocker Spaniel, or Siberian Husky, or Dachsund I left behind.
Finding my niche has been a lifelong journey; I grew up with all sorts of creatures from dogs and cats to birds, rats, and hamsters. I was blessed enough to have parents who welcomed my love of animals and allowed me to have them in the home. I remember my mom calling me on the phone one day, "Lesley!" she exclaimed, "do you want a Cockatiel?" "SURE!" I responded with glee, "What is that?" I had 3 different Cockatiels after that. They taught me patience as I tried to teach them to talk and all the while learned a sense of responsibility. My next project was rats. I started out with one female, Mitzi, whom I loved and adored. She was the queen rat. Then, after lots of research and begging, I was given permission to breed Mitzi with a male rat. I had several litters of rats and fell in love. They are incredible companions and very smart for a rodent. Mitzi knew her name, would follow me around on my shoulder and in the hood of my sweater, she was also an excellent mother.
It was my love for animals that initially motivated me to become vegetarian 15 years ago. I had heard from my hippie brother who was living in the foresty hills of Santa Cruz about the treatment of animals in slaughter houses. I couldn't bear the thought of eating my friends and so I made the choice, at the impressionable age of 12 years old, to not eat living creatures.
I just love ya.
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