You have probably heard the phrase, “fighting like cats and dogs.”  The funny thing about that phrase is that, in many cases, cats and dogs get along just fine.  In fact, they are often best of friends if raised together.  There are many species of animals that get along, even when nature seems set against such a friendship. 

While wolves perhaps do not actually raise many orphans, other animals can and do adopt outside their species.  Ask a goat owner who convinces their goat to let deer, sheep and even calves suckle.  Have you seen a mama kitty nursing a skunk before?  It sure is a strange sight.

A few years ago, my dog Annie found a skunk to befriend.  She never got sprayed, but you could look out in the middle of the night and see those two playing together out in the field.  I had another dog, Pippy, who loved to play with chickens.  It took a little convincing on her part, but once they realized she just wanted to play, they would often seek her out to play the animal equivalent of tag.

I think these examples could be applied to our own lives.  Animals don’t know they aren’t supposed to be friends with certain other animals, so despite our misgivings, strange alliances are often formed in the animal kingdom.  Perhaps if we judged less and accepted more, like our animal friends do, the world would be a richer place to inhabit.  It would certainly be more interesting.