Spiders and rats and snakes, Oh my!

[4boysmom32]

Ewwwww!!!!  I can't even begin to tell you how many times I have heard that expression whenever I tell people about the menagerie of animals in my house.  My 9 year old son has a pet tarantula (Spinner), and he and my 6 year old son are the proud owners of pet rats (Climber and Nibbles).  In addition to that, my 12 year old son has a pet frog.  Not all of our pets are scaly, slimy or creepy.  We also have a great dane, a parakeet, and four fish tanks, however it is the fact that we own rats, a spider and a frog that tend to get the biggest reactions.  The first question that people usually ask when they hear about our pets is, "Doesn't that totally creep you out?"  Not only am I not creeped out by any animal, but I will actually go out of my way to rescue an animal that most people could care less about.  Whenever I see a spider, rather than step on it, I will carefully scoop it up and gently place it outside.  I do the same thing for ants, roaches, or any other creepy thing that crosses my path.

Anyone who knows my dad will know exactly where my love for animals came from.  My dad cannot stand to see any animal in distress, or in potential danger.  My dad has often stopped his car to rescue a snake that was sunbathing too close to a major road.  If he is able to, he will catch the snake and drive it to a safer area.  If he is unable to catch the snake, he will try to guide it as far off the road as possible.  In addition to snakes, I have seen my dad stop the car to rescue a skunk, a buck with his antlers caught in a chain link fence, and a few turtles.  On a vacation to Cape Cod, my dad rescued a lobster that had gotten caught between the rocks.  When he had a mouse problem in his house, he set up humane mouse traps, and released the captured mice in the woods.

When I was a child, my dad would share his love for wildlife with me.  He took the time to read and learn everything he could about various animals, and he had an interesting fact about every creature we saw:

"Isn't it amazing how a spider can create a beautiful extravagent web like that?  Did you know that if it weren't for spiders, the world would be covered with insects?  Spiders protect us from harmful mosquitoes.  They also protect our food supply by catching an eating insects that feed on our crops."

"Did you know that bats use sonar to catch their prey?  They cannot see well in the dark, so they let off a high-pitched squeal which then emits an echo which bounces off the insects that they feed on."

"Did you know that the cockroach is a living fossil?  They were on the earth before the dinosaurs.  Isn't that amazing?"

"Did you know that snakes are a farmer's best friend?  They feed on field mice which can cause major damage to the crops.  The majority of snakes are harmless, and those that are poisonous will often give a warning to let you know that they are poisonous.  They don't want to bite anyone, and they will only do it if they feel threatened. If they can scare us off first, then they will not have to bite.  This is why the rattlesnake rattles its tail before striking and the cobra puffs itself up.  This is the way these snakes warn us to stay away."

I could go on and on with the facts that I have learned throughout my life.  My dad taught me that there is beauty to be found in every living thing.  He had something good to say about even the lowliest of creatures.  I am proud to say that I have grown up with the same attitudes, and I am hoping to teach my own children these values.

As I thought about animals, and how there is beauty to be found in each creature, it occurred to me that this same principle applies to human beings as well.  There is beauty to be found in everybody.  Sometimes it may be hard to see the beauty in a person, but if we look hard enough, we can find it.  There is no creature, animal or human that is so lowly that there is absolutely nothing good to be said about it.

[Bearsjen]

Jan. 13, 2009 at 3:05 PM

After the age of 15 I didn't really have a "daddy" and I have always missed that.I'm so glad you were able to learn so much about love from yours. :o)