Owner’s Emotional Roller Coaster
As the situation was unfolding, the owner had a rollercoaster of emotions. In the first instance, he felt fear and apprehension for the safety of the puppy, then shock by how the monkey was taking care of it, and now, as they watched this unusual relationship, there was amazement and relief. It was so touching to see the way the monkey was showing such care for the puppy.
The owner’s fears began to fade into a sense of respect for the monkey. Instead of being an aggressor, the monkey seemed to have adopted a role more closely akin to that of a caregiver. It was obvious the monkey was not holding the puppy out of aggression or dominance but was instead doing so out of a sense of companionship. Everything the owner once thought he knew about a dog’s animal instincts was challenged and they had to reassess some pretty deep-seated assumptions.
That emotional journey became a learning experience for the owner. Here, the owner understood that nature has secrets far beyond the human’s imagination and how, at the least expected times, animals can amaze us. This realization would create a long-lasting impression regarding how they regarded animals and their ability to offer empathy.
