Page 32 - Fourways Gardens May Issue 2025

Animals Matter

WHERE HAVE MY PEOPLE GONE?

From an animal’s perspective

hen families separate, it’s always a sad thing. he immediately attached himself to my elderly father. They were
Nowadays, I rarely meet anyone around a braai who inseparable until my father passed away at 102 years old. As we
hasn’t seen one of their children leave South Africa. all lived in the same household, I was able to observe Rocky’s
WThey miss them and lose out on being there to see behaviour for months afterwards. He called for my father in a
their grandchildren grow up abroad. In my line of work, I also meet guttural way, paced around the house and couldn’t settle. Rocky
people who have recently experienced either a death in the family, then found solace with my son, and when Adam decided to move
separation or divorce. Although these situations affect everyone to the UK, Rocky defaulted back to the behaviour of guttural cries
differently, the common denominator is a feeling of overwhelming and restlessness.
loss, sadness and emptiness.
Changes in household dynamics affect them. Even new furniture
As human beings, we are fortunate to be able to interpret can affect behaviour. They know something is not right and may
expressions on faces and read body language and emotions. be trying to communicate how they feel through their “odd”
We are then in a position to offer our support and friendship. We behaviour. We need to treat our animals the same way as people
listen with patience, kindness and empathy. Most of these people during this process with understanding, patience and empathy.
experiencing a loss also have companion animals and aren’t aware Animals generally understand death but not absence.
that changes in the dynamics of the household affect them, too.

As an example, many think that because a dog wags his tail, he is
automatically a happy dog. Whilst it can be a sign of happiness, a
wagging tail needs to be seen as a form of communication. It can
also show that the dog is anxious or worried, or even lead to an
act of aggression. Many owners are not aware of their pet’s body
language or their emotional state, barring when they think their pet
needs to see a veterinarian. Obvious signs like limping, not eating,
and vomiting are clearly all red flags, but what are the non-obvious
signs? How do we see if the animal is experiencing an emotional
state in response to various changes in the home?

When I adopted a kitten (Rocky) from the SPCA many years ago,

Jeanette Furstenburg is a certified animal behaviourist. She holds a diploma in Companion Animal
Behaviour (DipCABT) with distinction. She is a member of the COAPE Endorsed Association of Applied Pet
Behaviourists and Trainers International (CABTi), which is a member of the UK Dog Behaviour & Training
Charter 2025. She is part of the International Companion Animal Network (ICAN). In addition, she on the
board of the South African Board for Companion Animal Professionals (SABCAP).

For more information, call 082 445 8422,
email: jeanette@animalsmatter.co.za or visit: www.animalsmatter.co.za

Fourways Gardens • 30 • May 2025