The Anxiety of Domestic Animals During Christmas

Christmas is a joyous occasion for many people all over the world. As it approaches, children become excited for the things they are likely to enjoy and the places they may visit with their parents.

If you are in Accra, as Christmas approaches, you begin to experience traffic jams as if some ghosts have been added to the population in the city. Distances that you used to cover in an hour suddenly double, and if you are going for an interview, you would definitely become frustrated.

Therefore, as others are excited as Christmas approaches, some also become frustrated for various reasons, especially parents who have been hard hit in their pockets by the economy. Whichever way you look at it, Christmas is a mixed bag of experiences—some exciting, others triggering painful memories of deceased loved ones, traumatic accidents, or personal challenges.

In all this mixture of human emotional experiences, just consider for a moment what could be happening in the animal kingdom. Imagine the anxiety among domestic animals during the festive season.

Picture the fowls in the hen coop of Jack Toronto, the fowl seller at Agbogbloshie. When a customer comes to buy a fowl and selects one, Jack Toronto grabs it from the coop and hands it over. This sparks a silent conversation among the remaining fowls as they wonder who will be picked next. Sadness and anxiety descend upon them as they anticipate their fate in the coming hours or days.

Similarly, at Circle, a customer buying a goat can trigger anxiety among the herd. Once one goat is taken away, the remaining animals become uneasy, as if aware that the same fate may befall them. The scenario is akin to the fear experienced by kidnapped victims, where each approaching step increases uncertainty and dread.

Consider a father goat with his sons in the barn. If one of the sons is taken away for slaughter, the others experience sadness and heightened anxiety, realizing their potential vulnerability. This is the reality of domestic animals and birds during Christmas.

Before you dwell on your own challenges—tight finances, holiday stress, or personal worries—pause for a moment and reflect on the anxiety faced by domestic animals during the festive season. Such perspective can offer a unique reminder to remain patient, compassionate, and grateful.

Even when traveling, such as at Kofi Baako International Airport, the holiday rush and associated anxieties affect not only humans but all creatures who depend on human activity for their fate.

Whenever you feel discouraged during Christmas, think of the challenges facing domestic animals. Their anxiety, though silent, mirrors the broader tensions of the festive season. God bless.

By Laud Kissi-Mensah

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