Speaking of communicating across species, let me introduce my three little stooges: our cat, first dog, and second dog. I’ve had pets my whole life – birds, cats, fish, dogs…we even had two hermit crabs once, but they found their way into the classroom of my son’s preschool – partly on account of our older dog at the time wanting to put them in his mouth and walk around as though they were his. Sharing a life with these critters means understanding them. We make ourselves their care givers with a power dynamic that never changes throughout their lives – eternally dependent upon us. It isn’t just a courtesy to learn their mannerisms and determine their needs. It’s an act of welfare.