Other Inspirational Animals

I recently read about a woman from Seattle who heads something called the Goat Justice League, a group of about 100 goat owners. They were successful in changing their city's law to make it legal to keep goats as pets. There are restrictions, of course (male goats must be neutered and not permitted anywhere outside the owner's yard with the exception of being able to be loaned out to other goat owners), but the point here is that this woman spearheaded an effort to change society based on her experiences with her pet goat.

It turns out that goats are being touted as "anther link to the reality of where food comes from." They provide hormone free milk and are the ultimate "green" lawnmowers. In short, everyone seems to be gaining from the law change. Even nearby Portland and Everett have passed similar legislation and one council member was even heard to mutter about the feasibility of sheep and llamas as models of "urban sustainability."

Certainly Barbaro inspired similar changes in racing: greater attention to horse retirement and rescue issues, the passionate anti-slaughter lobby and tracks adopting artificial racing surfaces which are believed to be safer than dirt for horses and riders.

So do you know of any other animals who have inspired any humans in similar ways, big or small? I'm looking for animals that inspire people to act--not just to "be" different or more aware, but to actually "do" something with their new found knowledge that resulted from their relationship with the animal.

I'm a great believer in putting my request "out there" into the universe. When I was writing collection stories for our local newspaper, one collector frequently led to the next. So if you are an animal lover who knows of someone doing something interesting because of their animals, let me know.

As they say, you never know....