If you doubt the importance of animals in our world, come to the farm during an Open House and see the pleasure, love and healing dogs, donkeys, cats and even chickens can do. Red is not one dog but two, the fiercely focused and businesslike herding dog, the sensitive and affectionate pet and therapy dog. Here, Beth Heffern of the Open House reaches out to touch him, as hundreds of people did this weekend. Without animals, our connection to the natural world will be broken forever.