At Long Last, I have It!
During the course of our conversation, the seal flipped over onto its back at some point. The instant that this was explained to Gary, he had a profound comprehension of what it meant. The seal, just like any other dog, yearned for someone to touch his belly. The skill with which Gary caressed it must have given it a lot of pleasure.
It came as a surprise to Gary to learn that one of the frequent sensations experienced by animals of varying types is that of being stroked or scratched. Animals of all species, from domestic cats and dogs to seals and penguins, take pleasure in social interaction with humans.The seal had a strong appreciation for Gary’s abilities in the scratching and rubbing categories.