"Death of a Pig"

Animals touch a place in our hearts in a way that is unique, they open up an unseen world before us and they educate us in a way that school never could. In this article “Death of a pig” I think the author finally got this education.  There is something inherently primal about nursing a sick animal and though the animal in this case died the man still realized the depth of experience that he just received. 

This experience shook him to the core in a way that he will never forget. The author took the time to write about the experience, even going into such detail as to describe the enema process for the poor animal. As the article progresses you can see the authors emotions for the pig surface, such as when he says that the pigs suffering became a symbol of “all earthly wretchedness” and as the poor pigs condition worsened the author slowly begins to become more and more obsessed with its care. Its curious how an animal who held no real emotional significance one day can flip and as its dying become the center of ones existence. I think this article really illustrates how hard it is to let things go and how fast bonds are formed.  It brings me back to my first night at home with my brand new pet rabbit, I sat up with him all night and just talked to him. He seemed so scared and alone and I knew I had to do everything in my ability to make him happy. So I did the only thing I could think of and sat there and talked, and talked and talked until around 5 in the morning we both fell asleep and from that moment on we had a bond. Its astounding how fast it happens, both for a little girl and her scared rabbit or a grown man and a dying pig, this is why I say its something primal this ability to bond with another living creature, one that we cant speak to or communicate with but we still love.