Talk to the animals? Maybe, but there’s a message to be found

Crosshill resident Herb Neher, a former township councillor, finds there’s much to be learned from the animal kingdom

By Julian Gavaghan

Last updated on Dec 11, 25

Posted on Dec 11, 25

5 min read

Talk to the animals? Maybe, but there’s a message to be found

Herb Neher, surrounded by his dogs and birds, as well as tributes to Elvis, believes there’s much we humans could learn from his animals’ harmonious relationships. [Julian Gavaghan]

Spend a morning with Herb Neher and you start to wonder whether the old stories about people who can talk to animals might be true after all.

The former Wellesley councillor from Crosshill moves through his property with a calm, almost rhythmic ease, trailed by two German shepherds and an assortment of geese, ducks, hens and roosters, who all seem to know exactly where to go - and how to get along.

“What I have tried to create here was harmony,” he told The Observer.