Royal Winter Agricultural Fair and TTouch

I got to spend a few days down at "The Royal" in Toronto. It is one of the oldest and largest agricultural fairs in Canada. I do love it. So many people from so many places and the slew of new breeds of animals that I have never heard of or seen before. I was rather entranced by the beauty of some of the new - or new to me - breeds of chickens. Lovely copper tear drop shapes surrounded by black liner designs all over their bodies like a sea of organized Egyptian eyes. Beautiful.

Many years ago, just after I started to learn TTouch, I went and checked out the petting zoo. It was a hot, dark, chaotic place where people and animals were allowed to fully intermingle. It was a nightmare. There was no water in buckets and the people who worked there didn't seem to care much and seemed stressed out themselves.

I was drawn to one beautiful little donkey. They had wedged themselves in a corner as far away from everything as they could. The poor dear looked totally in shock and just wanted to be any place but there. My heart broke for them. I watched as kids were shoving food in their face and parents were tossing their kids on their back thinking it was all great fun. I cried.

As I did my best to block them from people, I just calmly stood beside them and spoke very softly. They flinched as I started to gently touch them. Eyes stared vacantly down in front. I continued to do gentle ear slides. What luxury on those marvelous ears. Slow Clouded Leopards down the neck and over their back. Lots of pauses. It took me a solid ten minutes before they started to blink again. Then the deep sigh. I still consider that to be one of the most important sessions I ever gave. They were in crisis. I can only hope that they retired them soon after. That is my wish so I hold onto that hope.

Last year when I attended I once again went to check out the petting zoo to see if my buddy was back. I found that the old company had not been rehired but a new company was brought in. That same company is back this year. Once again I found myself in tears; not of saddness but of joy. The room that the animals had was much larger. People were not allowed to wander amongst the animals but low fencing was all around them allowing food clutching hands, both large and small, to have access. Areas were divided amongst the animals so that certain species were separated off from each other reducing stress amongst the smaller beasties. It was wonderful to behold.

What made me most happy was that the animals had choice. Allowing choice is a huge tenent in TTouch. When you know you have options, it makes you less stressed and more likely to try something new. The animals had a variety of surfaces, levels an the ultimate choice - to opt out all together and have a nap. This was just marvelous.

The outcome of this rather unusual and thankfully thoughtful way of displaying the animals was that they were bright, healthy, happy, kind and gentle animals wanting to engage. Even the littlest hands were only rapidly lipped instead of being bitten and bullied. The animals loved engaging with the humans and most seemed to understand to be even more careful with children.

My hopes were proven to me with two incidents. Someone had unfortunatley place a rather noisy hand dryer right near the entrance of the petting zoo where people had a tendancy to congregate. None of the animals seemed the slightest bit concerned about it's high pitched whine. I was impressed.

I was even more impressed when I was saying hello to a small cluster of goats and two came over to inspect me. I did not have any food with me and confessed to such. Two of them did not mind and just sort of hung out with me for a bit. I started earslides on one when their buddy shoved them out of the way wanting a piece of the action as well. LOL. Two hands no waiting. I was working on both of their ears when I started to move onto the neck of the goat closest to me. I could see their eyes starting to drift as they enjoyed the new and relaxing sensation. Their friend was lured away with the promise of snacks but they didn't care. We were having a little visit and that was fun for us both. I learned to love goats all over again. They really are lovely creatures.

What was clear was that these were happy animals. What was clear was that these animals have humans that not only take care for them, but love them. I had a short chat with one of the owners of the company and you could see his pride when I complimented the condition of his animals. They are not just stock but are pets. A little bit of love and patience goes a long way. Attempts to understand the real needs of others that share this planet pay back tenfold. Three cheers for all those that try just a little harder to hear the furred, feathered and scaled.