Nature (1982–…): Season 27, Episode 8 - Why We Love Cats and Dogs - full transcript

Woman: HERE,
KITTY, KITTY, KITTY.

Man: THEY BRING OUT
THE SOFTER SIDE OF ME.

DOES THAT SOUND WEIRD?

NO, IT DOESN'T SOUND WEIRD.

WELL, THANK GOD!

OH, YEAH, SHE LIKES THIS.

Woman: CATS HAVE A STAFF

AND DOGS HAVE FAMILY.

DOGS ARE SOMETIMES SOME OF

THE LONGEST
RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE.

Woman: I JUST BROKE
UP WITH MY BOYFRIEND.



I SAID, "YOU KNOW, I JUST WISH

I COULD LOVE YOU
LIKE I LOVE ZACHARY."

Woman: YOU ARE A
CLASSIC SOUL MATE TYPE.

WE SHARE A VERY
SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP.

WE MADE DOGS AND CATS

WHO THEY ARE, AND IN
SOME WAYS THEY FED BACK

AND INFLUENCED WHO WE ARE.

I WOULD, LIKE, LOCK
MYSELF IN THIS ROOM

AND JUST DRINK ALL THE TIME.

YOU KNOW, HUMANS COULDN'T
EVEN REACH ME AT THAT POINT.

IT WAS THE CAT THAT SAVED ME.

Woman: A LOT OF PEOPLE
THOUGHT WE WERE NUTS WHEN WE

SOLD OUR BUSINESS AND OUR HOUSE

AND SAID WE WERE GOING
TO TRAVEL FOR A WHILE.



Woman: HOW FAR DO
YOU GO FOR A DOG?

GOOSE, HERE. GOOSE.

I HAVE A CAT, AND SHE

LIVES LIFE FOR HERSELF.

BUT SHE DOESN'T
LIVE LIFE FOR ME.

AND MY AUSTRALIAN
SHEPHERDS LIVE LIFE FOR ME.

CAT PEOPLE, I THINK,
THRIVE ON REJECTION.

DOG PEOPLE ARE
RELATIONSHIP-BUILDERS.

I THINK IZZIE HAS GIVEN ME
SOMETHING THAT I VERY MUCH WANT,

WHICH IS A WAY TO USE THE DOGS
TO CONNECT MORE WITH PEOPLE...

TO FIND MORE LOVE,
TO FIND MORE INTIMACY,

AND TO GROW UP MORE.

I THOUGHT I'D NEVER BE THAT GUY,

BUT NOW I'M THAT GUY.

I'M WIPING BUTTS,

DOING IT ALL.

GOTTA FIND A GIRLFRIEND
WHO LIKES TO SLEEP

WITH THE DOGS IN THE BED.

I MEAN, I'LL DO ANYTHING
YOU WANT, LADIES.

BUT THE DOG'S GOTTA
SLEEP IN THE BED.

I THINK DOG PEOPLE TEND TO BE
OVERINDULGENT OF THEIR PETS.

I THINK I WOULD GIVE UP MY BABY

BEFORE I WOULD GIVE UP MY DOGS.

COME ON!

YAY!

A DOG WILL RUN UP TO
ANYBODY AND LICK THEM.

YOU KNOW, THE DELI GUY COMES
OVER, AND THE DOG'S GIVING HIM

THE SAME LOVE HE'S GIVING
ME WHEN HE COMES HOME...

WHEREAS THIS CAT'S NOT
TALKING TO ANYBODY BUT ME.

I DON'T NECESSARILY ALWAYS WANT
SOMEBODY BANGING DOWN MY DOOR,

YOU KNOW, LOOKING TO BE PETTED.

YOU KNOW, I DEFINITELY GET

THE UNCONDITIONAL
LOVE FROM HUMPHREY,

BUT HE'S A LITTLE BIT
MORE SUBTLE WITH IT.

DOGS ARE OPTIMISTS, AND
CATS ARE KIND OF CYNICAL.

CATS HAVE A STAFF
AND DOGS HAVE FAMILY.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE CATS,

YOU HAVEN'T MADE
THE TIME TO KNOW A CAT.

AND SO I THINK IF YOU
OPEN UP AND LOOK THROUGH

THAT FEMININE WINDOW
FOR 15 MINUTES...

IS THAT THE WINDOW WE
NEED TO LOOK THROUGH?

THAT'S THE WINDOW WE
NEED TO LOOK THROUGH.

YOU DON'T HAVE ANY TROUBLE,
ESPECIALLY IN THAT SHIRT.

IS THAT RIGHT?

Man: THE CAT IS A GOOD
JUDGE OF CHARACTER.

THERE WAS SOMEBODY

RECENTLY WHO WAS IN MY LIFE,

AND THE FIRST TIME
THE CAT SAW HER,

HE WAS LIKE, "DUDE,
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

THIS PERSON IS TROUBLE."

SHE HAD TWO CATS WHEN WE MET.

AND THEN I CAME
INTO THE PICTURE.

AND I DON'T THINK
THEY REALLY LIKED THAT.

YOU MEAN THEY DIDN'T LIKE YOU.

YEAH.

ONE REASON WE LOVE DOGS—
WE SEE OURSELVES IN THEM.

AND IT IS OURSELVES.

Man: I THINK, IN OUR RUSH
TO MAKE DOGS JUST LIKE US,

WE SOMETIMES FAIL TO APPRECIATE
WHAT MAKES THEM DIFFERENT.

AND I THINK THEY'RE
ANOTHER TRIBE.

I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT LIKE
US, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN

LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION,
THEIR OWN INSTINCTS.

SO I ACTUALLY CELEBRATE
THEM FOR THE DIFFERENCES.

I THINK WHAT I REALLY
LOVE ABOUT DOGS AND CATS

IS THAT THEY'RE NOT LIKE US.

OH, YEAH, SHE LIKES THIS.

Man: SO SOMETIMES SHE
GETS HER TOUGH SELF ON, AND...

Woman: I'M SARAH WILSON.

I'M A PROFESSIONAL DOG TRAINER.

AND I'M A LIFELONG STUDENT
OF THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND.

WHO'S THE BEST?

COME ON, BOO-BOO.

Man: OKAY, HERE WE GO.

READY? HIT IT!

Wilson: HALF THE FUN OF GOING
TO THE DOG RUN IS SEEING

THEIR WHOLE RAINBOW OF DOG
OWNERS AND DOG COMBINATIONS.

HOW MANY FINGERS? ARF! ARF!

Woman: I AM A
SINGER/TEACHER/ACTRESS,

AND NOW HE'S FOLLOWING
IN MY FOOTSTEPS.

HE'S GOING TO BE A
PERFORMER, TOO, RIGHT, TIGER?

AH-CHOO!

AH-CHOO!

GOOD BOY!

PEOPLE THINK THAT YOUR EYES
ARE THE WINDOW INTO YOUR SOUL.

UNH-UNH, IT'S YOUR DOG.

IT'S HOW YOU DEAL WITH YOUR DOG.

IT'S HOW YOU PRAISE YOUR DOG,

IT'S HOW YOU INTERACT
WITH YOUR DOG.

Man: COME HERE, POOCH.

Wilson: AND IT IS A
LITTLE CHEAT SHEET

INTO PEOPLE'S PERSONALITY,

BECAUSE WE'RE NOT
GUARDED AROUND OUR DOGS.

RUBY'S DEFIANCE AND STUBBORNNESS

KIND OF TOOK ME BY SURPRISE.

SIT.

RUBY? SIT.

LIKE RIGHT NOW,
SHE'S KIND OF LIKE...

"I DON'T WANNA."

IT'S SORT OF

A BLESSING IN DISGUISE, IN THAT

IT'S POINTED TO THINGS

THAT I NEED TO WORK
ON IN MY OWN LIFE.

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING
OF WHEN YOU THINK THAT?

SOME CONFIDENCE.

RIGHT, YOU GOT WHAT YOU NEEDED,

MAYBE NOT WHAT YOU WANTED. YEAH.

GIMME FIVE!

Wilson: THROUGH THE YEARS

OF BEING A PROFESSIONAL
DOG TRAINER,

I'VE SEEN PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR
BETWEEN OWNERS AND THEIR DOGS.

AND I'VE IDENTIFIED
NINE OF THESE PATTERNS.

AND I SEE THEM ALL
OVER, AND YOU WILL, TOO.

WE HAVE THE SOUL
MATE, THE OBSERVER,

THE BUDDY, THE IDEALIST,

THE DYNAMO, THE FREE SPIRIT,

THE ANGEL, THE MASTER,

AND THE EXPERT.

KATHY AND ROSS WERE ANGEL TYPES.

THEY WANT TO SAVE A DOG.

THEY DON'T WANT
TO CONTROL THE DOG.

THEY WANT TO HEAL THROUGH LOVE.

THIS IS JASPER.

HE'S A RESCUE.

HE HAS TERRIBLE
SEPARATION ANXIETY.

OKAY, HOW DOES
THAT DISPLAY ITSELF?

HE RUNS IN CIRCLES
AND BECOMES HYSTERICAL

IF SOMEBODY TRIES TO
LEAVE THE APARTMENT.

ANYBODY.

WHEN YOU'VE LEFT
AND YOU COME HOME,

WHAT'S THE SITUATION?

IS HE IN A PANIC?

NO, HE'S ACTUALLY SLEEPING.

YES, SO THAT'S NOT SEPARATION...

SEPARATION ANXIETY IS

FEAR WHEN HE'S LEFT ALONE.

HE WILL ATTACK ME,
OR HE'LL TRY TO GET

BETWEEN ME AND
KATHY WHEN WE KISS.

AND YOU...

I TRY AND CALM HIM DOWN

AND REASSURE HIM IT'S OKAY.

TELL HIM RIGHT
NOW THAT IT'S OKAY.

JASPER, COME HERE.

OH, WHAT A GOOD BOY.

IT'S OKAY. YEAH.

AND NOW HE THINKS
YOU PRAISE HIM.

EVERY TIME HE AGGRESSES AT ROSS,

HE THINKS HE'S BEING PRAISED.

AND HE GOES, "WELL, OKAY,
NO PROBLEM, I'LL DO THAT!"

HE GETS RIGHT
BETWEEN US AND GOES,

"I DARE YOU TO GO NEAR HER."

YEAH, AND COULD ANYBODY
ELSE ON THE PLANET

GETAWAY WITH THAT? NO.

Wilson: DOG OWNERS
THAT I WOULD CALL

"ANGELS" CLASSICALLY
HAVE THIS PROBLEM.

I GO IN AND COMMONLY SEE
PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT HAVING SEX

BECAUSE OF THEIR DOGS.

THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE
THEY'RE SO LOVING WITH THE DOG

THAT THEY DON'T TELL
THE DOG TO KNOCK IT OFF,

LIKE THEY WOULD ANYBODY ELSE.

IS THIS COMMON? Ross: NO.

BECAUSE HE'S BASICALLY...

HE KEEPS MY HEAD WARM.

MOUNTING YOU.

YOU ARE PUTTING HIM IN
THE MOUNTING POSITION.

Kathy: OH, NOT GOOD.

AND YOU ARE PUTTING A
DOG WHO AGGRESSES AT YOU

IN YOUR OWN BED IN
THE MOUNTING POSITION

ON YOUR HEAD— DO YOU THINK THAT

IN ANY WAY MIGHT BE CONFUSING...

YEAH, THAT'S, I'M PRETTY SURE

THAT'S REALLY CONFUSING.

OKAY, SO WHY DON'T
WE DISMOUNT THE DOG?

THERE WE GO.

THERE'S THE LEASH.

DOGS ARE SOMETIMES
SOME OF THE LONGEST

RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE.

THEY'LL BE WITH US
FOR 12 YEARS, 13 YEARS.

I THINK THE AVERAGE MARRIAGE
NOW IS WHAT, 3 1/2 YEARS?

SUCH A GOOD BOY.

Woman: THIS IS WHAT I CALL
THE DOG OF MY LIFETIME.

YOU KNOW, HE'S
BEEN MY BEST FRIEND,

HE'S BEEN MY FRIDAY
NIGHT COMPANION

WHEN I DIDN'T WANT TO GO OUT

OR COULDN'T GO OUT
OR DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE

TO GO OUT WITH, OR
WHATEVER THE SITUATION WAS.

Wilson: YOU ARE A CLASSIC

SOUL MATE TYPE.

JUST, YOU LOVE TO LOVE HIM.

YOU WANT TO BE WITH HIM.

AND YOU SHARE THINGS
WITH EACH OTHER.

I ACTUALLY SAY THAT!

I'M LIKE, "WHY DO I
LOVE YOU SO MUCH?"

I'M LIKE, "IT'S JUST BECAUSE."

LIKE, IT'S THE KIND OF LOVE

THAT'S UNCOMPLICATED,
IT'S JUST TRUTHFUL.

DOGS ARE WHAT WE
CALL CONGRUENT...

THEY ACT THE WAY THEY FEEL

AND THEY FEEL THE WAY THEYACT,

WHICH IS ONE OF THE
PROBLEMS WITH PEOPLE, RIGHT?

YOU DON’T ALWAYS
KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

BUT THEY'RE AUTHENTIC,
AND YOU CAN TRUST THAT.

AND I JUST BROKE UP
WITH MY BOYFRIEND...

I WAS REALLY MEAN, BUT I SAID,

"YOU KNOW, I JUST WISH I COULD

LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE ZACHARY."

AND, LIKE, I KNOW
THAT WAS REALLY MEAN,

BUT I MEANT IT, AND I COULDN'T.

AND I'M SINGLE, SO...

YOU KNOW, IT'S
JUST THE WAY IT IS.

Wilson: CARLO IS A
CLASSIC BUDDY TYPE.

HE AND HIS DOG ARE A UNIT.

IF YOU START TALKING

ABOUT RELATIONSHIP
TOO MUCH, MOST BUDDIES

GET A BUBBLE OVER
THEIR HEAD LIKE,

"COULDN'T WE GO
OUTSIDE AND PLAY BALL

OR DO SOMETHING, LIKE,
MORE INTERESTING THAN THIS?"

Carlo: I WANT TO TAKE
HER EVERYWHERE I GO.

YOU KNOW, IF I COULD
TAKE HER TO WORK, I WOULD.

ABSOLUTELY.

SHE JUST HANGS OUT AND
SHE'S JUST HAPPY TO BE

AT MY FEET.

SHE'S VERY LOW MAINTENANCE,

VERY, VERY LOW MAINTENANCE.

SHE MIGHT MAKE A
GREAT PERSONAL AD.

YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT
YOU NEED, YOU KNOW?

OCCUPIES HERSELF,
NOT TOO DEMANDING,

WANTS TO DO

SORT OF OUTDOOR THINGS.

YEAH, YOU'RE MAKING ME
THINK, NOW THAT YOU SAID THAT.

THAT'S KIND OF CREEPY.

Wilson: IT'S NO SURPRISE TO
ME THAT WE LOOK FOR, IN A DOG,

WHAT WE WANT IN A BEST FRIEND
OR ANOTHER SORT OF COMPANION.

OF COURSE! BECAUSE
THEY ARE FAMILY

AND THEY ARE THAT
SORT OF COMPANION.

ALL RIGHT, CALM DOWN.

WITH CARLA AND JAY, WE HAVE
THE MASTER/OBSERVER COMBO.

TELL HER ABOUT THE RULES.

OH, MOST OF THE TIME WHEN
I'M HOME WITH HIM ALONE,

THERE AREN'T MANY RULES.

AS SOON AS THE GATE OPENS
AND CARLA COMES HOME,

THAT'S WHEN THE RULES BEGIN.

HE GETS AFFECTION

WHEN I WANT HIM
TO HAVE AFFECTION.

HE HAS TO ASK TO
GET UP ON THE COUCH.

WANT TO LIKE THROW
THE TOYS FOR HIM,

AND I'LL SAY, "THAT'S ENOUGH."

WELL, NO, HE KEEPS

DROPPING IT ON MY LAP

AND PESTERING ME
UNTIL I KEEP DOING IT.

AND HE CAN DO WHAT
HE WANTS IN THE HOUSE,

BUT WHEN WE GO OUT AND ABOUT,

I'VE GOT THE LEASH.

Wilson: THAT'S THE
MASTER'S DEAL.

THEY LOVE THROUGH PROTECTION,

AND PROTECTION
FOR THEM IS CONTROL.

JAY JUST LETS RIO "BE A DOG."

AND THAT'S THE OBSERVER TYPE.

WERE YOU AN ONLY OR A DOUBLE?

HOW MANY KIDS DID YOU
HAVE IN YOUR FAMILY?

I HAVE THREE NATURAL SISTERS

AND AN ADOPTED
BROTHER AND SISTER.

I'M THE OLDEST.

AND YOU WERE THE
RESPONSIBLE ONE.

CORRECT.

AND YOU?

AND ME, WELL, I WAS
THE MIDDLE CHILD.

SO I WAS KIND OF JUST BASICALLY

CHASING BUTTERFLIES
ALL THE TIME.

SEE THE LINKAGES HERE AT ALL?

YEAH, A LITTLE BIT!

FOR YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN TRYING

TO GET PEOPLE TO
TRAIN THEIR DOGS.

AND IT HASN'T HELPED.

WHY? BECAUSE WE'RE
MISSING THE POINT ENTIRELY.

IT IS NOT ABOUT THAT
END OF THE LEASH.

IT IS ABOUT US.

IT IS ABOUT OUR
RELATIONAL PATTERNS.

IT IS ABOUT OUR PERSPECTIVES.

I AM DIANA KORTEN, AND I LIVE
HERE WITH MY TWO DAUGHTERS...

MY 5-YEAR-OLD
AND MY 10-YEAR-OLD.

AND WE'RE ALL CAT LOVERS,

WHICH IS A GOOD THING,
SINCE WE LIVE WITH SIX CATS.

THIS IS LITTLE BIT.

GUSSIE IS BACK HERE, HIDING,

BECAUSE SHE IS DEFINITELY

THE SHYEST CAT OF
THE WHOLE BUNCH.

THIS IS HELEN.

HELEN IS MY OLDEST CAT.

SHE'S THE SOCIAL PARIAH

OF MY LITTLE CAT COLONY HERE.

THE OTHER CATS
REALLY DON'T LIKE HER.

THEN HERE WE HAVE HENRY.

HENRY IS MY DEAR FRIEND.

THIS IS BEN.

AND THIS IS DAISY.

SHE IS MY PROBLEM CHILD

AND THE FINAL... AND I
REALLY MEAN THE FINAL...

ADDITION TO THE FAMILY.

UM...

SEE, YOU HEAR THAT?

SHE'S VERY CRABBY.

SHE'S NOT CRABBY WITH PEOPLE,

SHE'S JUST CRABBY
WITH OTHER CATS.

I AM MAKING A FEAST,

AND... FOR THE KITTIES,

WITH THEIR FOOD.

AND THIS IS A LITTLE TRICK

I LIKE TO DO, AND
THEY REALLY LIKE IT.

I POUR SOME OF THE DRY
FOOD IN THE LITTLE HOLE.

Man: WELL, THE THING IS
THAT, UM, CATS LIVE TOGETHER,

AND IT'S NOT JUST
AN AGGREGATION,

WHICH IS A GATHERING OF
ANIMALS AROUND A FOOD SOURCE.

IT'S ACTUALLYA SOCIETY.

THEY CAN WALK PAST ANOTHER
CAT AND JUST BRUSH, LIKE THIS,

AND THAT MEANS
SOMETHING MUCH MORE...

IT'S LESS DEMONSTRATIVE
THAN, SAY, A DOG WOULD BE,

SO PEOPLE MISSED IT COMPLETELY,

BECAUSE THEIR
SIGNS ARE SO SUBTLE.

RECENTLY IT'S BEEN SHOWN

THAT IT'S A
TIME-SHARING SOCIETY.

Diana: WE THINK OF
TERRITORY IN TERMS

OF SQUARE FOOTAGE,

WHILE CATS THINK OF
IT IN TERMS OF PATHS.

AND THEY WORK EVERYTHING
ON TIME-SHARE ARRANGEMENTS.

IF ONE CAT, LIKE, THIS
IS HER FAVORITE PLACE

TO SLEEP IN THE MORNING,

ANOTHER CAT CAN HAVE

THAT PLACE TO SLEEP AT NIGHT.

THEY REALLY GET ALONG VERY WELL.

I THINK I CAME UP
WITH A BETTER IDEA...

Diana: I FEEL LIKE THE
CATS ASK POLITELY

WHEN THEY WANT SOMETHING.

YOU KNOW, RATHER
THAN BARKING AT YOU,

THEY COME AND RUB
AGAINST YOUR LEG

WHEN THEY WANT TO BE FED.

YOU LIKE THAT SALMON?

I JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S A
RELATIONSHIP OF EQUALS.

WHEN I'M AROUND
DOGS, THEY DOMINATE ME.

THEY JUST BOSS ME AROUND.

THEY DON'T SEE ME AS
AN AUTHORITY FIGURE.

THE THREE LITTLE KITTENS,
THEY LOST THEIR MITTENS.

AND THEY BEGAN TO CRY.

Diana: I LOVE THE ANTICIPATION
OF LITTLE FEET AT NIGHT.

I LOVE THE SOUND OF PURRING.

"WHAT? LOST YOUR MITTENS?"

HERE, KITTY, KITTY, KITTY!

I LOVE JUST THE
FEEL OF THEIR FUR.

LIKE, IT'S A PLEASURE

TO JUST TOUCH THEM
AND STROKE THEM.

HERE, KITTY, KITTY, KITTY!

THEY COME.

YOU KNOW, THE COME,
AND THEY COMFORT YOU.

I DID A LOT OF CRYING
THROUGH MY DIVORCE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW I
WOULD HAVE SURVIVED

IF IT WASN'T FOR THESE CATS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN

SUCH A GODSEND
FOR ME ABOUT BEN IS,

APRIL HAS OPPOSITION
DEFIANCE DISORDER...

BASICALLY, THAT
MEANS THAT, YOU KNOW,

EVEN IF YOU SAY,

"APRIL, YOU WANT TO
GO GET SOME ICE CREAM?"

SHE'LL BE LIKE, "NO!"

SHE'LL GET INTO ONE
OF HER TANTRUMS,

INTO ONE OF HER STATES,
AND THE BEST THING TO DO

TO CALM HER DOWN IS
JUST TO BRING HER BEN.

THE WAY THAT HE

LOVES HER SO ABSOLUTELY

MAKES ME FEEL LIKE THIS CAT

WAS MADE FOR THAT GIRL

AND THAT GIRL WAS
MADE FOR THIS CAT.

WE SHARE A VERY SPECIAL
RELATIONSHIP WITH DOGS AND CATS,

FOR EXAMPLE, BECAUSE
WE CO-EVOLVED.

WE MADE DOGS AND CATS

WHO THEY ARE, AND IN SOME WAYS,

THEY FED BACK AND
INFLUENCED WHO WE ARE.

THE FUNDAMENTAL INGREDIENT
IS SHARED EMOTIONS.

WE SHARE ALL THE
NITTY-GRITTY PARTS OF THE BRAIN,

AND WE SHARE ALL
THE NEUROCHEMICALS

AND ALL THE NEUROTRANSMITTERS.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY
FOR MOST PEOPLE IS,

WE SHARE THEIR EMOTIONS.

WE NOW KNOW THAT ANIMALS
HAVE WHAT ARE CALLED

MIRROR NEURONS, AND
MIRROR NEURONS ALLOW US

TO MIRROR

IN OUR OWN BRAINS THE
FEELINGS AND THE EMOTIONS

OF ANOTHER ANIMAL.

IT'S REVOLUTIONIZED THE FIELD.

MIRROR NEURONS CAN BE LOOKED AT

AS THE NEURAL BASIS FOR EMPATHY.

AND THAT'S JUST

VERY IMPORTANT IN THE FORMATION

AND THE MAINTENANCE OF
THE STRONG SOCIAL BONDS

THAT WE FORM WITH DOGS AND CATS

AND THEY FORM WITH ONE ANOTHER.

SO IT CROSSES SPECIES,

BUT IT ALSO WORKS
WITHIN SPECIES.

Woman: JERRY'S BEEN
WITH US THROUGH

THE MOST IMPORTANT
PART OF OUR LIVES.

WE GOT HIM SOON
AFTER WE GOT MARRIED,

BOUGHT OUR FIRST HOUSE,
STARTED A BUSINESS.

GOD, WE WENT WHOLE HOG
AND WERE WORKING EVERY DAY

FOR 12 HOURS A DAY, AND
JERRY WAS ALWAYS WITH US,

BECAUSE WE ALWAYS WORKED
OUT OF OUR HOME OFFICE.

WE USED TO CALL HIM THE CFO,

THE CHIEF FUN OFFICER.

Jim: OR THE CANINE FUN OFFICER.

CANINE FUN OFFICER, YEAH.

HE WOULD COME AT 4:30 OR 5:00.

HE'D KNOW WHAT TIME IT WAS.

HE WOULD NUDGE THE KEYBOARD.

WE WOULD GO ON
HIKES, AND HE WOULD,

YOU KNOW, RUN AND PLAY AND SWIM,

WAY OUT IN THE BACK COUNTRY.

FIVE, SIX YEARS WENT BY

WHERE HE WAS JUST
THE MOST PLAYFUL,

FRIENDLY PART OF THE FAMILY.

OUR LAST HIKE, JUST A
COUPLE WEEKS AFTER THAT,

HE STARTED LIMPING.

AND THEY SAID IT WAS ARTHRITIS,

SO WE PUT HIM ON A DRUG.

A COUPLE WEEKS WENT
BY, TOOK HIM OFF THE DRUG,

AND HE WAS LIMPING WORSE.

I PRESSED ON HIS
SHOULDER ONE NIGHT...

I'LL NEVER FORGET IT...
AND HE JUST LET OUTA YELP

LIKE IT WAS BLOODY
MURDER. AWFUL.

THERE WAS A TUMOR

ABOUT THE SIZE OF A MANGO

GROWING INWARD, SO WE
DIDN'T SEE IT THROUGH HIS FUR.

YEAH, YOU COULDN'T FEEL IT.

AND THE DOCTOR
SAID, "SORRY TO SAY IT,

BUT IT'S CANCER."

AND WE WERE PUT ON THE SPOT.

AMPUTATE, AND HE'LL HAVE

A BIT LONGER TO LIVE,

OR MEDICATE HIM.

Rene: IF HE COULD HAVE
A GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE

ON THREE LEGS, EVEN IF
IT WAS JUST A FEW MONTHS,

THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERED.

A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK
ATA DOG WITH THREE LEGS

AND JUST THINK, "IT'S TERRIBLE.

"WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?

DOGS ARE MEANT
TO HAVE FOUR LEGS."

Rene, on video: GOING
TO THE HOSPITAL.

Jim: THE DOCTOR TOLD US,
"HE'S ALREADY ON THREE LEGS.

DOING THIS WILL
GET RID OF HIS PAIN."

AT THAT POINT, IT WAS
JUST, YOU KNOW, NO-BRAINER.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I
WANT MORE TIME WITH JERRY.

THE DOCTOR TOLD US HE HAD
THREE TO FOUR MONTHS TO LIVE.

THE ROUTINE THAT
JERRY DIDN'T LIKE

WAS WAITING ALL DAY
FOR US TO PLAY WITH HIM.

SO WE DECIDED TO
TAKE THIS ROAD TRIP,

SEE NEW PLACES
WITH HIM, TAKE HIM OUT

INTO THE WILDERNESS,
WHERE HE LOVES TO BE.

AND OUR LIFE JUST TOOK THIS 180,

AND IT WAS ALL ABOUT JERRY.

AND HERE WE ARE,
14 MONTHS LATER.

AND HE JUST WANTS
TO PLAY, PLAY, PLAY.

HE SAYS, "LET'S GO!"

Rene: OH, SNOW,
LOOK! HE GOT SNOW!

OH, MY GOD!

Jim: WE DECIDED, WE'RE
NOT GOING TO PUT HIM

THROUGH ANY
CHEMOTHERAPY TREATMENTS.

AND NOT TO DO X-RAYS
EVERY FEW WEEKS,

LIKE THEY SAID WE COULD DO

TO SEE IF SOMETHING
WAS COMING BACK.

WE DECIDED IT WAS
BETTER NOT TO KNOW.

I FIGURED HE WOULD LET
US KNOW WHEN HE WAS SICK.

WE KNEW THE SIGNS—
HE WOULD STOP EATING,

HE WOULD GET LETHARGIC.

YOU KNOW, I WANT TO SEE
JERRY PLAYING AND ENJOYING LIFE

UNTIL THAT HAPPENS.

AND WHEN THAT TIME
COMES, BY ALL MEANS, MAN.

Rene: A LOT OF PEOPLE

THOUGHT WE WERE NUTS WHEN WE

SOLD OUR BUSINESS AND OUR HOUSE

AND SAID WE WERE GOING
TO TRAVEL FOR A WHILE.

HOW FAR DO YOU
GO FOR... FOR A DOG?

PLAYTIME'S OVER, JERRY.

Rene: I MEAN, HE'S NOTA
KID, HE'S NOTA HUMAN,

BUT HE MEANS SO MUCH TO US.

I CAN'T PICTURE OUR
LIVES WITHOUT HIM.

I'M ACTUALLY AN
EQUAL-OPPORTUNITY

PET LOVER, ANIMAL LOVER,

BECAUSE I LOVE DOGS
AND CATS EQUALLY,

BUT IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

YEARS AGO, I META PSYCHIC
WHO EXPLAINED THIS TO ME,

THAT DOGS AND CATS
FEED INTO DIFFERENT

PARTS OF OUR PERSONALITY.

DOGS ARE EMOTION... AND
THEYALSO WIGGLE A LOT...

AND CATS ARE THE MIND.

LIVING WITH DOGS AND
CATS UNDER ONE ROOF

CERTAINLY HAS SOME
CHALLENGES INVOLVED.

SHE'S THE OLDER SISTER

AND HE'S SORT OF LIKE
THE DORKY LITTLE BROTHER

WHO, YOU KNOW, WANTS TO
JUST ALWAYS BE AROUND HER.

WE ALWAYS MAKE
THAT JOKE, THAT IT'S

THE HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR/
HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN THING.

YES, YES!

YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE
IT'S KATIE'S SWEET 16

AND SHE DOESN'T QUITE KNOW

IF STABLER'S COOL ENOUGH YET.

TO BE INVITED. TO HANG OUT.

Dodman: DOGS AND CATS, YOU KNOW,

CAN BE NATURAL ENEMIES,
BUT YOU COULD RAISE

A PUPPY AND A KITTEN TOGETHER,

AND THEY WILL FORM
THIS AMAZING, TIGHT BOND.

A CAT BETWEEN TWO
WEEKS AND SEVEN WEEKS

IS IN A CRITICAL PERIOD
OF DEVELOPMENT.

SO IF YOU TAKE A CAT WHO
HAS BEEN SOCIALIZED TO DOGS,

AND THEN THAT CAT IS
SUBSEQUENTLY LATER IN LIFE,

AT SIX MONTHS, INTRODUCED
TO A BUNCH OF PEOPLE

WHO HAPPEN TO HAVE
DOGS AROUND, THE CAT GOES,

"OH, HEY, YOU
KNOW, SLAP ME FOUR."

THEY CAN STILL HAVE
A BAD EXPERIENCE...

IF ONE OF THE DOGS
STARTS CHASING THEM,

THEY GO, "WOW, YOU
KNOW, THAT'S A BAD ONE."

BUT IT'S NOT LIKE

A CLASS-ACTION SUIT
AGAINST ALL DOGS.

Woman: TROUBLE
THINKS IT'S A DOG,

SINCE IT'S BEEN
RAISED WITH DOGS.

AND IT FETCHES AND IT
TRIES TO EAT THE DOG FOOD.

EMILY AND CHARLIE ARE LITERALLY
BEST FRIENDS IN THE HOUSE.

I HAVE EIGHT CATS ALTOGETHER.

EMILY, THE DOG, IS ALSO
LIKE A FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE.

I MEAN, IF I HAVE A SICK CAT,

SHE COMES OVER AND
SHE LICKS THEIR EARS,

SHE MAKES SURE THAT I
MEDICATE THEM CORRECTLY.

SHE'S THE CARETAKER
OF THE FAMILY.

Dodman: THERE IS A PHENOMENON
CALLED CONCAVEATION...

DOGS AND CATS THAT
WILL CLEAVE TOGETHER

IN WAYS THAT ARE SORT OF ALMOST

MATERNAL OR
BROTHERLY OR SISTERLY.

SO THERE'S ALL THESE BLENDS,

FROM CHASING AND TOLERATION

AND READING BODY LANGUAGE,

TO EVEN THESE VERY CLOSE,

ALMOST ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS.

CHARLES DARWIN, THE
FAMOUS BIOLOGIST/GEOLOGIST,

SAID THAT DIFFERENCES
AMONG ANIMALS ARE

DIFFERENCES IN DEGREE,
RATHER THAN DIFFERENCES IN KIND,

WHICH MEANS THAT THE
DIFFERENCES AMONG ANIMALS

ARE LIKE SHADES OF
GRAY, NOT BLACK AND WHITE.

Bekoff: I THINK ONE
OF THE REASONS

THAT WE FEEL SO IN SYNCH

WITH DOGS—AND CATS,

BUT DOGS, IN PARTICULAR,
WHO TEND TO BE MORE PLAYFUL

AS A SPECIES, IS BECAUSE WE
CAN RECIPROCALLY PLAY WITH THEM,

BECAUSE WE CAN
SHARE THE EMOTION.

AND THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT PLAY
IS REALLY, REALLY FUNDAMENTAL

TO THE DEVELOPMENT
AND THE MAINTENANCE

OF THE BOND.

THE MAIN THING
THAT I'VE OBSERVED

IS THAT THEY PLAY FAIRLY.

WE CALL IT "WILD JUSTICE."

THEY COOPERATE WITH ONE ANOTHER,

THEY FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER
WHEN THEY BITE TOO HARD,

THEY APOLOGIZE AND SAY,

"I'M SORRY I BIT YOU TOO HARD."

SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING
ABOUT THE EQUITY,

THE JUSTICE, THE FAIRNESS,

THE COOPERATION,
THAT REALLY ATTRACTS US

TO DOGS AND CATS
AND OTHER ANIMALS.

OH, I LOVE THIS CAT.

COME OUT, I WANT
TO PLAY WITH YOU.

Woman: THERE HE IS, WILLY BOY!

HEY, BUDDY.

LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING
TO FREE WILLY TODAY.

Woman: TRADITIONALLY,
IN SHELTERS,

AN ADOPTER WOULD
WALK IN THE DOOR

AND THEY'D HAVE A
PICTURE IN THEIR MINDS

OF WHAT THEY
WANTED FOR THAT PET.

WE KNOW YOU COME IN

WITH EXPECTATIONS,
AND THOSE EXPECTATIONS

ARE MORE THAN JUST A BREED...

IT'S ABOUT THE
BEHAVIOR IN THAT BREED,

THAT, "I WANT A DOG THAT'S
GOING TO PLAY BALL WITH ME,"

OR, "I WANT A DOG THAT'S GOING
TO CUDDLE WITH ME AT NIGHT."

HI, GUYS, MY NAME'S JENNIFER.

GREAT... MARY, NICE TO MEET YOU.

MARY, IT'S GREAT TO MEET YOU.

HI, ANGEL, NICE TO MEET YOU.

ANGEL, IT'S WONDERFUL
TO MEET YOU.

WELL, THIS IS SASHA.

Mary: I'M SINGLE, AND I
OWN MY OWN BUSINESS.

AND I JUST HAVE THAT EMPTY VOID.

I HAVE FRIENDS— LIKE,
SHE'S A GREAT FRIEND,

BUT I CAN'T, YOU KNOW,
HAVE HER CONSTANTLY,

SMOTHER HER, YOU KNOW?

Jennifer: YOU SCORED IN
THE ORANGE CATEGORY.

AND SASHA IS ALSO AN ORANGE.

KIND OF A MIDDLE OF THE ROAD,

IN TERMS OF EXERCISE AND
TRAINING REQUIREMENTS.

Mary: I'M TRYING
TO BETTER MY LIFE,

AND I THOUGHT ABOUT A CAT,

BUT I'M LIKE, "I'LL JUST
DO THE SAME THING,

SIT AND WATCH TV,
NOT DO ANYTHING, EAT."

I WANT A DOG THAT
WILL MOTIVATE ME

TO WAKE UP EARLIER, GO RUNNING

AND BE MORE ACTIVE.

WE NEED TO DO THIS,

LIKE, AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK.

YEAH, SEE, AND THEN
WE'LL GET EXERCISE.

GET SASHA A BOYFRIEND.

Weiss: YOU, AS THE
ADOPTER, COME IN,

YOU FILL OUTA SURVEY.

THAT SURVEY

COLOR-CODES YOU EITHER PURPLE,

ORANGE, OR GREEN.

ANIMALS THAT ARE
WITHIN YOUR COLOR CODE

ARE MOST LIKELY TO MATCH,

BASED ON YOUR EXPECTATIONS
AND THE DOG OR CAT'S BEHAVIOR.

LOOK AT YOU!

Weiss: WE DO AN
ASSESSMENT ON THE DOGS.

WE LOOK AT PLAY BEHAVIOR,

WE LOOK AT HOW HARD THE
DOG WILL WORK FOR SOMETHING.

AND FROM THOSE ASSESSMENT ITEMS,

WE DETERMINE THAT
DOG'S "CANINE-ALITY."

WHAT A GOOD GIRL.

GOOD GIRL!

Weiss: WE HAVE THE PURPLE DOGS,

THE ORANGE DOGS,
AND THE GREEN DOGS.

THOSE ARE BASED ON

WHAT WE CALL THE
PERSISTENCE SCALES.

COME HERE, SILLY.

YOU DON'T WANT A TREAT?

Weiss: HOW HARD IS
THIS DOG GOING TO WORK

FOR WHAT HE WANTS?

HERE, SKY. COME ON.

Weiss: PURPLE DOGS
WON'T WORK VERY HARD

FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT.

IF THEY DON'T GET IT EASILY,

THEY'RE JUST GOING TO
GIVE UP AND GO LAY DOWN.

OUR ORANGE DOGS ARE OUR
MEDIUM-PERSISTENCE DOGS.

THESE BEHAVIORAL TRAITS

STAY FAIRLY STABLE IN THE HOME.

FINALLY, OUR GREEN DOGS
ARE VERY, VERY PERSISTENT

AND WILL LIKELY LEARN
HOW TO GET WHAT THEY WANT.

ONE OF THE WAYS
THAT WE DETERMINE

THE "CANINE-ALITY,"

THE INDIVIDUAL NAME THAT
THAT DOG ENDS UP WITH,

WHETHER HE'S A BUSY
BEE OR A GOOFBALL

OR A WALL FLOWER,

IS HIS MOTIVATION TYPE.

Woman: YOU'RE A GOOFBALL.

OH, I WOULD HAVE GUESSED THAT.

Weiss: WE HAVE SOME DOGS
THAT ARE SOCIALLY MOTIVATED...

THEY WANT TO PAY
ATTENTION TO US A LOT.

WE HAVE DOGS THAT ARE
INTERNALLY MOTIVATED BY STUFF

THAT WE CAN'T EASILY MANIPULATE.

AND THEN DOGS THAT WE
CALL EXTERNALLY MOTIVATED,

SO THEY'RE MOTIVATED BY
LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS...

FOOD AND TOYS AND PEOPLE.

OH, IS IT YOURS NOW?

Woman: HE IS
DEFINITELY A GO-GETTER.

HE'S GOT A LOT OF ENERGY.

SO HE'S GOING TO NEED
A LOT OF ATTENTION.

I DEFINITELY THINK IT'S
TOO MUCH DOG, DEFINITELY.

OKAY, WELL, MAYBE WE CAN...

MAYBE THIS IS TOO MUCH FOR US.

YEAH — HE'S A GOOD
DOG, BUT I DON’T THINK SO.

Weiss: IN THE U.S., BETWEEN

5 AND 7 MILLION
COMPANION ANIMALS

ENTER OUR SHELTERS EVERY YEAR.

OF THOSE, 60% OF THE DOGS

AND BETWEEN 70% AND 75%
OF THE CATS NEVER LEAVE.

THEY'RE EUTHANIZED.

WITH THE "MEET YOUR
MATCH" PROGRAM,

WE CAN ACTUALLY DECREASE RETURNS

BY MORE THAN HALF.

SO THE REASON FOR THIS
PROGRAM BECOMES VERY CLEAR.

Woman: "HI, MY NAME IS FLUFFY.

"YOU'RE WORKING
ON THE COMPUTER...

"LET ME PRESS THE KEYS.

YOU'RE READING THE PAPER..."

WE'RE HERE TO ADOPT FLUFFY,

ITSY'S LITTLE SISTER.

WE ADOPTED HER LAST WEEK,

AND WE FOUND OUT THAT
HER SISTER WAS HERE,

AND WE JUST WANT TO GIVE HER
A HOME, TOO... OR WE WANT TO,

AT LEAST, LOOK AT HER
AND SEE IF WE WANT HER.

Man: IT WOULD BE INTERESTING
TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN,

YOU KNOW, IF WE GET HER
HOME WITH THE OTHER ONE.

Woman: WE LOST NOBODY
IN FEBRUARY TO CANCER,

AND THEN IN SEPTEMBER,
WE LOST SOMEBODY.

THEN IN DECEMBER, WHEN
WE LOST ANYBODY, TOO,

WE HAD HER CREMATED, AND
WE HAVE ALL THEIR REMAINS,

AND WE HAVE THEM IN CAT URNS,

AND THEY'RE ON OUR FIREPLACE.

THEY'RE ALWAYS GOING
TO BE WITH US, AND...

GUESS WE'RE WEIRD.

WE JUST LOVE OUR CATS.

Woman: WHILE ITSY
WAS IN THE SHELTER,

SHE WENT THROUGH THE
SAME EXACT ASSESSMENT

THAT FLUFFY WENT THROUGH.

AND THEY BOTH CAME
OUT AS ORANGE CATS.

FLUFFY TOLD US IN HER ASSESSMENT

THAT SHE'S EVEN
MORE SOCIAL THAN ITSY.

SHE'S WHAT WE WOULD
CALL A GREGARIOUS CAT.

I'M HOPING THAT THIS
ONE WILL BECOME MY CAT,

BECAUSE ITSY HAS ADOPTED BILL.

THERE'S NOT ROOM
FOR TWO ON MY LAP.

MELVIN.

MELVIN.

HE, LET'S SEE,
"LIKE ALL SIDEKICKS,

"I'M JUST PLAIN GOOD COMPANY.

I LIKE ATTENTION, AND I
ALSO LIKE MY SOLITUDE,"

WHICH IS GOOD.

HE LIKES WHAT?

"HE LIKES HIS SOLITUDE"
MEANS HE LIKES BEINGALONE. OH.

Weiss: FOR OUR CATS,

WE ACTUALLY USE
THE SAME COLORS...

PURPLE, ORANGE, AND GREEN...

BUT THEY MEAN DIFFERENT THINGS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT SOMETHING
THAT WE CALL VALIANCE.

SOME MIGHT CALL IT CONFIDENCE.

IT'S REALLY SHY VERSUS BOLD.

Weiss: THE ASSESSOR JUST WATCHES

THE INTERACTION OF THE
CAT AROUND THE ROOM.

HOW IS THE CAT MOVING ABOUT?

IS HIS BODY TALL,
IS HIS BODY LOW?

WHAT AMOUNT OF
TIME DOES HE SPEND

INTERACTING WITH THE ASSESSOR?

Weiss: WE ALSO
HAVE ANOTHER SCALE.

IT'S THE
INDEPENDENT/GREGARIOUS SCALE,

AND THERE, WE'RE LOOKING
AT SOCIAL BEHAVIOR.

WE PICK THE CAT UP AND WE
HOLD HIM UP AGAINST OUR BODY.

THERE'S A LOT OF
CATS THAT ENJOY TOUCH

BUT DON'T LIKE TO BE HELD.

SO THAT'S GREAT INFORMATION
FOR OUR ADOPTERS.

WE JUST SIMPLY STROKE THE CAT,

AND WE GIVE THEM
FIVE LONG STROKES.

CATS THAT GET FAIRLY
OVERSTIMULATED

TOWARDS THAT TOUCH OR MOVE AWAY
FROM THE TOUCH ARE CATS THAT ARE

NOT AS LIKELY TO DO
AS WELL WITH CHILDREN.

THERE WE GO!

SO THIS IS MELVIN.

MELVIN IS ACTUALLY
AN ORANGE KITTY.

HE'S WHAT WE CALL A SIDEKICK.

HE WAS A STRAY.

IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY
BROUGHT HIM IN.

HE'S BEEN HERE ABOUT
A MONTH — QUITE A WHILE.

YOU KNOW, HE'S
AN ADULT GRAY CAT.

THEY TEND TO STAY
LONGER THAN MOST.

PROBABLY SECOND
TO OUR BLACK CATS.

THE OTHER ONE THAT
WE WERE LOOKING AT...

WOW, MELVIN!

Weiss: THERE COULD BE
80 CATS TO CHOOSE FROM

ON THE ADOPTION FLOOR... IN SOME
SHELTERS, EVEN MORE THAN THAT.

SO IT HELPS... IT
MAKES IT FUN...

I'M NARROWING DOWN MY FOCUS.

I'M A PURPLE PERSON, SO I'M
GOING TO FOCUS ON A PURPLE CAT.

Woman: PUCK SCORED
IN THE PURPLE RANGE.

PURPLE CATS ARE PROBABLY

GOING TO HIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE.

THEY TAKE A LITTLE BIT LONGER

TO ADJUST TO NEW SITUATIONS.

I THINK WE'RE LEANING
MORE TOWARD MELVIN.

YEAH. YEAH.

Weiss: ONCE YOU
MAKE THAT DECISION

TO BRING AN ANIMAL HOME,

IT CAN BE HEART-WRENCHING

TO HAVE TO BRING THEM BACK.

HAVING REALISTIC
EXPECTATIONS ABOUT YOUR PET

WILL INCREASE THE BOND.

YOU'RE ALMOST HOME NOW, BUDDY!

Weiss: THE ANIMAL'S GOING TO BE

MUCH MORE LIKELY
TO STAY IN THE HOME.

AND THAT MEANS

THAT MORE LIVES CAN
BE SAVED IN SHELTERS.

I LOVE HER.

I WANT TO TAKE HER
HOME, ABSOLUTELY.

YOU WANT TO ADOPT HER?

WONDERFUL!

WILL, COME HERE.

HERE WE GO, COME
ON. COME ON, UP HERE.

Woman: COME ON, BUDDY.

HERE YOU GO, COME ON.

GO IN THERE, BUDDY.

OH, COME ON.

READY? UP WE GO.

THERE YOU GO!

GOOD BOY!

GOOD JOB, BUDDY!

BRIAN GETS HOME FROM WORK.

HE LIES ON THE BED.

HE GETS IN HIS COMFY
SHORTS AND T-SHIRT.

AND HE LIES THERE, AND
MILES JUMPS ON HIS CHEST,

PURRS, GIVES KISSES, AND
THAT'S DECOMPRESSION TIME.

THAT'S 15 MINUTES OF,

"JUST LEAVE ME
ALONE. ONLY MILES."

EVERY DAY.

EVERY DAY.

IT'S LIKE THEY'RE MALE BONDING.

I GET A LITTLE JEALOUS.

THEY BRING OUT THE
SOFTER SIDE OF ME.

DOES THAT SOUND WEIRD?

NO, IT DOESN'T SOUND WEIRD.

WELL, THANK GOD!

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Man: THERE'S NOTHING LIKE

THAT DIRECT EYE-TO-EYE CONTACT

I HAVE WITH THIS CAT

THAT I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED
WITH ANOTHER ANIMAL,

AND I DARESAY WITH SOME HUMANS.

THERE'S A SOULFULNESS,
THERE'S A DEPTH OF SPIRIT HERE

THAT I THINK CATS OWN, UNIQUELY.

Man: IT WAS THE
CAT THAT SAVED ME.

I MEAN, IF YOU WANT ME TO
GET REAL PERSONAL ABOUT IT...

I WOULD, LIKE, LOCK
MYSELF IN THIS ROOM

AND JUST DRINK ALL THE TIME.

YOU KNOW, FOR, LIKE,
ALL DAY LONG, YOU KNOW?

AND I WOULD COME
OUT, AND THE KI...

YOU KNOW, HUMANS COULDN'T
EVEN REACH ME AT THAT POINT.

WHEN I WAS AT MY
BOTTOM, IT WAS THE CAT

WHO WOULD WAIT OUTSIDE
THAT DOOR FOR EIGHT HOURS

TILL I'D COME OUT, AND
THEN HE'D LOOK AT ME,

JUST BECAUSE HE
WANTED TO WALK OVER

TO, YOU KNOW, TO EAT WITH ME.

YOU KNOW, HIS BIG THING IS,

HE LIKES ME TO SIT
WITH HIM AND EAT.

HE LIKES THE NOURISHMENT
NOT JUST FROM THE FOOD,

BUT HE LIKES THE COMPANIONSHIP,

EVER SINCE HE WAS A KITTEN.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS HAVING

TO LOOK HIM IN THE EYE

AND KNOWING WHAT I
WAS DOING TO MYSELF

THAT GOT ME TO SEEK
HELP FOR THAT PROBLEM

AND NOT ISOLATE.

Man: I'VE ALWAYS
HAD CATS IN MY LIFE.

I HAVE A CAT CURRENTLY,
NAMED SMOKEY,

AND I'VE—I'M KIND OF
A ONE-CAT PERSON.

I'VE NEVER HAD MORE
THAN ONE ATA TIME.

WHEN I MET DIANA'S
CATS AND THEY CAME

RUNNING UP TO ME, AND THEY
HAVE QUITE DISTINCT PERSONALITIES...

IT'LL BE VISUALS
WITH THE PICTURES

OF THE ANIMALS, AND THEN
COMMENTARY ABOUT THEIR LIVES.

ARE YOU TELLING ABOUT
YOUR PET PROJECT?

DID YOU BRING THAT CD?

I DID, SO... COULD
WE LISTEN TO IT?

SURE, SURE!

Diana: IN WESTERN
CULTURE, THE CAT

IS SO ASSOCIATED
WITH THE FEMININE,

AND I THINK THAT MEN
WHO HAVE GOTTEN IN TOUCH

WITH THEIR CAT SELVES TEND TO BE

A LITTLE MORE
EMOTIONALLY IN TUNE.

KEN IS SO EMOTIONALLY INVOLVED
WITH HIS ANIMALS THAT HE HAS

COMPOSED MUSICAL
PORTRAITS OF THEM.

Jacobs: I FIND ANIMALS TO BE

A VERY GREAT
STIMULANT TO CREATIVITY.

SMOKEY, IN PARTICULAR, IS A
VERY AFFECTIONATE CREATURE.

HE SITS AT MY FEET
WHEN I WRITE MUSIC.

HE IS DEFINITELY

A MUSE, AND ONE
OF THE FINEST ONES

THAT I HAVE EVER HAD.

AND THAT'S ONE OF
THE MAIN REASONS

I FELT LIKE I WANTED TO
DO THIS MINOR TRIBUTE,

TO SHOW SOME OF MY REGARD
FOR THESE WONDERFUL CREATURES

AND HOW THEY HAD
ENRICHED MY LIFE.

Dodman: I HAVE AN
OLD SAYING THAT

IF YOU TEACH A CAT ONE
NEW TRICK EVERY MONTH,

BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNICATION

THAT'S BUILDING BETWEEN
THE CAT AND THE OWNER,

BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
EVENTUALLY WILL MELT AWAY.

Diana: HERE,
KITTY, KITTY, KITTY!

Dodman: WE PREACH, WITH DOGS,

THAT PEOPLE SHOULD SPEND

MORE TIME TRAINING,
DOING AGILITY.

WELL, THE CAT'S NO DIFFERENT.

THE CAT NEEDS THAT SAME

INTERACTION, WILL
BENEFIT FROM IT,

DEFINITELY NEEDS EXERCISE.

NEEDS SOMETHING TO THINK
ABOUT, NOT JUST THE NEXT MEAL.

Woman: THIS WEEKEND, WE'RE AT

THE INTERNATIONAL CAT
ASSOCIATION BIG ANNUAL CAT SHOW.

I'VE BROUGHT EIGHT CATS TODAY.

ALL EIGHT OF THEM ARE GOING
TO PARTICIPATE IN AGILITY.

HOW THEY DO, I DON'T KNOW.

Woman: HERE'S THE DEAL.

SEE THIS?

YOU GO OVER IT, YEAH, LIKE THAT!

Woman: THIS IS SLICK WILLY.

HE'S A LITTLE
SIX-MONTH-OLD CORNISH REX.

HE'S MY BEST SHOT
FOR THE WEEKEND.

Woman: MY PARENTS, WHEN
THEY FIRST HEARD I WAS

GOING TO DO THIS, THEY
SAID, "OH, NO, I DON'T,

"I DON'T THINK SO,
SHIRLEY, YOU KNOW,

THEY'RE CATS, THEY'RE NOT DOGS."

AND I SAID, "I REALLY THINK
THAT THEY HAVE THE POTENTIAL."

WHEN I FIRST STARTED
WORKING WITH THE CATS,

WHAT REALLY AMAZED ME WAS
HOW RESPONSIVE THEY WERE.

I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW,
YOU FED YOUR CAT

AND PLAYED WITH IT A LITTLE BIT,

AND WENT OFF AND
TRAINED THE DOG.

BUT HERE WAS A CAT
THAT, WHEN I SAID, "SIT,"

WAS SITTING... WHEN I PUT IT

ON A LEASH, WAS WALKING
WITH ME ON A LEASH.

I THOUGHT, "OH, THIS
IS PRETTY FANTASTIC!"

IT'S OKAY.

EVERYBODY DID THAT
WITH THEIR PUPPY.

IT WAS COMMON.

BUT NOBODY DID IT WITH KITTENS.

AND WE FOUND OUT THAT, THE
MORE WE DID WITH THE CATS,

THE MORE TRAINABLE THEY WERE.

Woman: PEOPLE
UNDERESTIMATE THE CAT.

WHEN WE PUT A CAT IN A RING

AND PEOPLE SEE THE CATS
MOVING AND SEE THE INTERACTION

OF THE CAT WITH THE OWNER,

REGARDLESS OF THE
AGE OF THE OWNER,

IT'S... IT'S LIKE AN EPIPHANY.

"WHERE HAVE WE BEEN?

HOW CAN WE HAVE BEEN
WASTING SO MUCH TIME?"

Man: I DON'T THINK I
COULD TRAIN CATS,

BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T
HAVE THAT MUCH PATIENCE.

YOU WANT THEM TO GO THIS WAY,

THEY GO THIS WAY,

OR GO UNDER WHEN
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO GO IN.

Woman: COME ON!

Dodman: A LOT OF PEOPLE
THINK YOU CAN'T TRAIN CATS.

WELL, THAT'S WRONG.

IF YOU'RE TRAINING
WITH THE FLOW,

AN ANIMAL TO DO WHAT IT DOES...

FOR A CAT TO ENGAGE
THOSE ASPECTS

OF PREDATORY BEHAVIOR,

THE LEAPING, THE
SPRINGING, THE FOLLOWING,

YOU KNOW, NOW YOU'RE
WORKING WITH NATURE.

Woman on P. A.: NOW
HE DOESN'T GO DOWN.

YOU KNOW, AND I T'S NOT, "I'M
GOING TO GO DO SOMETHING"

OR "I'M ABOUT TO
GO DO SOMETHING..."

Shirley: NOW, YOU
SEE I'M MAKING HIM

DO EVERYTHING CORRECTLY?

I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT ANY SPEED.

IT'S MOST IMPORTANT
TO GET HIM TO DO IT RIGHT

THE FIRST TIME.

IF I SEE HIM GOING OFF
TO THE SIDE, I BRING HIM

BACK AROUND AND COME
BACK FORWARD FOR IT.

SO SEE HOW HE'S JUST
FOLLOWING THAT TARGET STICK.

GOOD!

THAT WAS MY FAULT—
DID YOU SEE WHAT I DID?

I CUED HIM BACK BEFORE
HIS SHOULDER WAS PAST.

I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL
THE SHOULDER COMES IN.

THE SHOULDER COMES
THROUGH, COME BACK TO THIS SIDE,

SHOULDER COMES THROUGH.

THEN I GO OVER HERE.

GOOD BOY.

Man: A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, IF
SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE SAID I'D BE

AT CAT SHOWS ON THE WEEKENDS
AND DRIVING HUNDREDS OF MILES,

I WOULD SAY
THEY'RE CRAZY, BUT...

HE USED TO DRIVE
A CONCRETE TRUCK

AND LOVED BIG DOGS.

NOW HE LOVES CATS.

NOW I LOVE CATS.

COME HERE, COME HERE.

THEY'RE ALMOST LIKE

TWO-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN
— THEY MISS NOTHING.

NOTHING IS OLD TO THEM.

OH, SHE'S SNIFFING!

THEY LIKE TO SNIFF EVERYTHING,
AND THEN THEY'LL GO.

Woman on P. A.: PROCEED
IN AN ORDERLY FASHION...

Dodman: WHEN YOU BRING A
CAT INTO A PLACE LIKE THIS

AND THERE'S BEEN A CAT

JUST BEFOREHAND, THE
NEXT CAT'S GOING TO COME IN

AND, WHILE HE'S THINKING
ABOUT HIS EXERCISES

HE'S BEEN TRAINED TO DO,

THERE'S, "OH, MY GOODNESS!

"THERE WAS ANOTHER
CAT, AND IT WAS A...

"IT WAS A FEMALE,

AND I WONDER WHAT
IT HAD FOR BREAKFAST,"

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE
ALL THESE DIFFERENT SIGNALS

GOING ON, AND THE OWNER GOES,

"COME ON, YOU
COULD DO IT AT HOME."

OKAY, LET'S GO TO AGILITY.

Dodman: WHEN AN
OWNER SPENDS TIME

INTERACTING WITH
THEIR CAT IN THE FORM

OF TRAINING, AGILITY,
AND THINGS LIKE THIS,

IT EMPOWERS BOTH SIDES OF
THE EQUATION, IN THE SENSE

THAT THE OWNER NOW REALIZES
THEY CAN TRAIN THEIR CAT,

WHICH IS A REVELATION
AND GETS THEM NEW RESPECT

FOR THEIR LITTLE FURRY FRIEND.

BUT ALSO, THE CAT SEES
THAT OWNER AS BEING

SOMEBODY THAT THEY CAN
POTENTIALLY COMMUNICATE WITH.

YOU ARE PERFECT, SO SHOW IT.

YOU READY?

ARE YOU READY?

LET'S GO! COME ON, RUSTY!

GO, GO, GO, GO, GO!

Kajon: IT'S INTERESTING
TO SEE HOW

THE MOTIVATION IS DIFFERENT.

IT'S NOT FOR THE COOKIE.

IT'S NOT FOR THE PETTING.

IT'S BECAUSE THEY
WANT TO HAVE FUN.

Woman: LET'S FINISH
OFF WITH A BANG.

Kajon: HERE YOU SEE
THE SOUL OF A CAT.

GOOD BOY!

Man: FIRST TIME, HE WENT
THROUGH AT 19 SECONDS.

AND THEN HE BROKE HIS
RECORD TO 15 SECONDS.

SO HE REALLY DONE
VERY WELL FOR A PERSIAN,

BECAUSE THEY'RE USUALLY
THOUGHT OF AS KIND OF A DUMB CAT.

Woman: WHOO-HOO!
THAT WAS EXCELLENT!

Shirley: YOU CAN'T FORCE
A CAT TO DO ANYTHING.

EVERYTHING HAS TO COME
BECAUSE THEY WANT TO DO IT.

AND THE END REWARD FOR US

IS THEM DOING WHAT
WE WANT THEM TO DO.

SUCH A GOOD MAN.

Woman: HE DOES
EVERYTHING WITH ME.

WHATEVER I WANT TO
DO, HE'S WILLING TO DO IT.

HE IS MY TRUE OTHER HALF.

NOW GO OUT AND
FIND ME A MAN, DUDE.

THERE WE GO. YEAH.

Bekoff: OUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH DOGS... AND CATS...

IS A TRICKY ONE.

ON THE ONE HAND, IT'S VERY
UNEQUAL AND ASYMMETRICAL.

WE CONTROL THEM TOTALLY.

BUT WHEN WE

PROVIDE THEM WITH
ENRICHED LIVES,

LIKE WE DO AGILITY TRAINING
OR WE TAKE THEM RUNNING

OR LET THEM SWIM
OR PLAY HIDE-AND-SEEK

OR WHATEVER GAME,
IT ENRICHES THEIR LIFE.

AND WHAT'S IN IT FOR
THEM IS, THEY ENJOY IT.

THEY ENJOY BEING CHALLENGED.

THE FACT THAT OTHER ANIMALS

HAVE RICH AND DEEP
EMOTIONAL LIVES

AND THEY'RE SMART
AND THEY'RE MOODY

AND THEY HAVE PERSONALITIES,

MEAN WE NEED TO RESPECT
THEM AND APPRECIATE MORE

WHO THE ANIMALS ARE.

HEY, SHE TAUGHT ME
HOW TO LOVE, ACTUALLY.

I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I WOULD...

WOULD GET THAT FROM A DOG.

I REMEMBER LAYING IN
BED AT ONE POINT AND...

I JUST... I WAS WATCHING
SOMETHING ON TELEVISION

ABOUT A STORY—
SOMEONE DIDN'T SURVIVE

WHAT I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH,

AND I JUST KIND OF BROKE
DOWN UNDER THE PRESSURE.

AND HE LITERALLY CAME
IN FROM THE OTHER ROOM,

JUMPED UP ON THE BED,

AND JUST KIND OF PUT
HIS HEAD ON MY CHEST...

LIKE HE REALLY KNEW,

JUST TO BE THERE WITH
ME AND STAY WITH ME.

THINGS IN MY PERSONAL
LIFE WENT SOUTH VERY FAST,

AND I LOST... A LOT OF THINGS

THAT WERE REALLY
IMPORTANT TO ME.

UM...

AND, UH...

ALMOST OVERNIGHT...

YEAH, I KNOW...

ALMOST OVERNIGHT, HE TRANSFORMED

INTO THIS INCREDIBLE
CREATURE WHO JUST

WASN'T NEARLY SO GOOFY
ANYMORE, AND HE CHOSE ME.

AND THAT'S WHEN I FEEL LIKE
THE PARTNERSHIP STARTED.

I STARTED USING SKYLER

IN MY CREATIVE VISUALIZATIONS,

AND SO I WOULD SEND HIM IN...

I WOULD IMAGINE THAT
THE HIV WERE MICE,

AND I WOULD SEND SKYLER
IN TO GO GET THE MICE.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS BACK
WHEN WE HAD NO REAL THERAPY.

AND I DID— I DON'T KNOW

HOW MUCH STOCK
YOU CAN PUT IN IT.

BUT I DID WELL, AND
OTHER FRIENDS DID NOT.

AND SO I REALLY DO CREDIT...

I REALLY DO CREDIT SKYLER

WITH ME DOING AS WELL AS I HAVE,

AND I'M SORRY THAT HE'S GONE.

BUT HE'S STILL, YOU
KNOW, HE'S STILL HERE.

HE STILL HELPS
ME IN ALL OF THAT.

Jim: TO SEE JERRY IN
HIS ELEMENT IN PLACES

LIKE THIS REALLY
GIVES ME A KICK.

YOU GO, JERRY, GO!

WHOO!

Rene: AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE

TO DO THAT... WE'VE
BEEN TO SO MANY

SPECTACULAR PLACES
IN THE LAST YEAR.

Jim: IT WAS JUST ABOUT LIVING

IN THE MOMENT, LIKE DOGS DO,

AND TAKING EVERY DAY BY DAY

AND TRYING NOT TO FEAR
ABOUT WHAT'S COMING.

THAT WAS BONE CANCER.

Rene: THAT'S WHY
HE HAS THREE LEGS,

BUT HE DOES GREAT.

IN THE MEANTIME,
WE'RE JUST KIND OF

TRAVELING AROUND WITH
HIM AND SHOWING PEOPLE...

YES, HONEY, HUH?

Man: I HAVE

A GOLDEN RETRIEVER-ROTTWEILER,

AND HE'S 11 YEARS OLD.

IT'S THE SAME LEG AS JERRY.

Jim: I CUT OUT A
CARTOON THE OTHER DAY

AND PUT IT ON THE
INSIDE OF OUR MIRROR.

AND IT'S THE WRITER
LOOKING AT HIS WATCH,

SAYING, "WHAT TIME IS IT?"

AND THE DOG SAYS, "NOW!
NOW! NOW! NOW! NOW! NOW!"

AND HE SAYS, "DOGS ALWAYS
KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS."

Rene: LAST WEEK, WE WENT TO
SEE MY FAMILY IN LOS ANGELES.

AND JERRY NEEDED SOME
HEARTWORM MEDICATION.

AND THE VET WAS GREAT.

BUT HE REALLY ENCOURAGED
US TO GET X-RAYS DONE.

Jim: AND RENE FOUND
A CLINIC IN NEW MEXICO,

NEAR WHERE WE WERE GOING
TO BE FOR THE NEXT MONTH.

Jim: SO HOW FAR IS THE
CAMPGROUND FROM THE CLINIC?

NOT VERY FAR... IT'S
LIKE A HALF-HOUR.

HIS APPOINTMENT'S AT 9:00.

SO WE GOTTA GET
UP ATA DECENT HOUR.

WE NEED TO BE

ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT
WHAT WE'RE WILLING TO DO,

AND NOT DO, IS MORE IMPORTANT.

AND ME PERSONALLY,

I DON'T WANT TO PUT HIM

THROUGH AN
OPERATION IF THAT'S...

NO, I AGREE, I AGREE.

I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK
FOR CHEMO REPEATED TIMES

IF THAT'S AN OPTION.

ARE YOU WITH ME THERE?

I'M WITH YOU, I'M WITH YOU.

Jim: I WANT TO STICK BY MY GUNS

AND DO IT FOR HIM.

WHEN WE COULD GO TO THE LENGTHS

AND SPEND ALL THE MONEY
JUST SO WE COULD HAVE

MORE TIME FOR US WITH HIM,

I'D RATHER HAVE MORE
QUALITY TIME FOR HIM WITH US.

SO HIS... HIS ONE REMAINING
FRONT LEG IS UP HERE,

HEAD'S UP THIS WAY,

AND THEN HIS TAIL'S
DOWN HERE, OKAY?

AND AT THIS POINT,

FROM WHAT I CAN
TELL IN THESE X-RAYS,

I'M MOST CONCERNED ABOUT

TWO DIFFERENT
SPOTS, NOT JUST ONE.

THERE'S ONE MAIN MASS HERE,

AND, UM, AND THEN THERE'S
THIS ADDITIONAL THING,

WHICH IS REALLY HARD TO SEE.

HE, YOU KNOW, BY NATURE OF HIM

HAVING TUMORS IN
HIS LUNGS RIGHT NOW,

THE AVERAGE SURVIVAL TIME

IS ABOUT 2 1/2 MONTHS, OKAY?

AND THAT'S WITHOUT
ANY TREATMENT.

AND I KNOW THAT'S HARD TO HEAR.

WITHOUT ANY TREATMENT AT ALL.

NOW, IF WE DECIDE TO
GO DOWN THIS ROUTE...

I'VE USED THIS FOR, I WOULD
SAY, ABOUT FIVE OR SIX YEARS NOW,

THIS SORT OF OPTION...

I WOULD SAY THAT A
GOOD OUTCOME IN HIS CASE

WOULD BE SIX MONTHS, OKAY?

AND THAT'S FEELING GOOD.

I DON'T WANT HIM
SIX MONTHS SICK.

I WANT HIM SIX
MONTHS FEELING GOOD,

BEING HIS NORMAL
JERRY SELF, YOU KNOW?

AND MAYBE BEING A LITTLE
TIRED ON WALKS HERE AND THERE,

AND THAT'S FINE, YOU KNOW?

Rene: AS SHE WAS STANDING
THERE EXPLAINING OUR OPTIONS,

I JUST KEPT THINKING, WHY?

WHY DIDN'T I DO THIS SOONER?

MAYBE THAT TUMOR
WOULDN'T BE THERE.

Jim: AND I KNOW IT
WOULD STILL BE THERE,

AND IT WOULD COME
BACK EVENTUALLY.

GOING TO CLINICS BACK AND FORTH

WOULDN'T HAVE
BEEN WORTH IT TO ME.

IS THERE ANY SORT OF
SELF-ADMINISTERED EUTHANASIA?

OR IS IT...

DOES A VET HAVE TO DO IT?

TO DO IT RIGHT, YOU NEED
SOMEONE TO DO THAT?

YEAH, YOU NEED TO HAVE
A VETERINARIAN DO THAT.

BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO IS,

IF YOU SEE HE'S
STARTING TO GET WORSE,

IS THAT YOU CAN ADD IN
MORE PAIN MEDICATIONS,

TO KEEP HIM AS PAIN-FREE

AND AS COMFORTABLE
AS YOU CAN, EXACTLY.

YOU HAVE SUCH AN
INCREDIBLE BOND WITH HIM

THAT YOU JUST NEED TO
LOOK IN HIS EYES, YOU KNOW,

AND HE'LL LET YOU KNOW...
HE'LL LET YOU KNOW.

YOU READY TO GO?

YOU WANNA? YOU WANT TO GO?

HE'S SPOKEN TO ME
IN MY DREAMS LATELY,

AS IF HE KNOWS WHAT'S COMING.

AND HE DOESN'T CARE.

AS IF HE'S PROTECTING US.

I HAD A DREAM THAT WE
WERE WALKING IN THE FOREST,

AND THE BIG, BAD WOLF CAME.

AND HE WAS GOING TO EAT US.

AND IT WAS GETTING
SCARIER AND SCARIER.

BUT JERRY CHASED HIM OFF.

AND THAT WOLF
WOULDN'T COME NEAR US.

IN A PERFECT WORLD, WE WOULD
SEE THIS BEAUTIFUL STRETCH OF LAND

AFTER A LONG, LONG TIME
ON THE ROAD WITH JERRY,

WE'D SEE HIM RUN ON IT.

HE'D GET TO LIVE THERE,

AND EVENTUALLY BE
PUT TO REST THERE.

NOW YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE ME CRY.

Rene: IT BLOWS ME
AWAY, IT REALLY DOES...

THE FACT THAT HE WAS
ABLE TO GET US OUT HERE.

TIRED, JERRY?

Rene: YOU KNOW, IT CAME

IN AN UNPLEASANT WAY
WITH THE CANCER, BUT...

THERE'S ALWAYS A SILVER
LINING WITH EVERYTHING,

AND THIS IS WHAT IT IS,
WITH CANCER AND JERRY.

THE DOG HAS TAUGHT
ME TO RESPECT LIFE.

THE DOG SEES THINGS DIFFERENTLY,
HEARS THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

IT'S A DIFFERENT WORLD.

THEY'RE WILD,
THEY'RE STILL WILD,

AND THEY BRING THAT BACK TO US.

ALL I KNOW IS THAT,
THAT DAY IN THE SHELTER,

HE CAME AND HE, LIKE,
ALMOST SAT ON MY HEAD.

HE WAS LIKE, "HI, I'M HERE,

AND I'M GOING TO GIVE
YOU ANOTHER CHANCE."

MEANING ME, AS A REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE HUMAN RACE.

SO THAT IS AN
AMAZING, AMAZING GIFT.

HE WOULD REMIND ME CONSTANTLY

OF WHAT IT WAS THAT
I WAS STRIVING FOR,

WHICH WAS A HEALTHY,
CONSCIOUS LIFE, YOU KNOW?

SO IN THAT WAY, YOU KNOW,
HE WAS A ZEN TEACHER.

THEIR LOVE MENDS
MY SOUL WHEN I'M ILL.

AND WHEN I GET HOME
FROM THE HOSPITAL,

I GET WELL FASTER WHEN
I'M SURROUNDED BY THEM.

YOU'RE UNDER THE COVERS
AND THE WORLD IS HORRIBLE,

BUT THEY HAVE TO BE WALKED.

SO YOU DRAG YOURSELF
OUT OF YOUR BED,

AND YOU DON'T DRAG
YOURSELF OUT OF YOUR GRIEF,

BUT YOU DRAG YOURSELF
OUT OF YOUR BED

AND YOU GO OUTSIDE
AND YOU WALK THEM,

AND THEY HAVE GOTTEN
YOU BACK INTO THE WORLD.

AND THEY'VE GOTTEN YOU BACK

INTO A REALLY BEAUTIFUL
PART OF THE WORLD,

WHERE THERE'S AIR AND
SUN AND SENSATIONS,

AND YOU COME BACK TO LIFE.

THEY REALLY BRING
YOU BACK TO LIFE.

THEY DO.

TO LEARN A BOUT WHAT YOU'VE
SEEN ON THIS "NATURE" PROGRAM,