Hi Raggie!
IMHO this is NOT a dumb question at all. The answer is in a book written more than 50 years ago and still in print! - Kinship with all life by J Allen Boone.
Over the years i have referred many people to this book and the stories i get back are just wonderfull. As a quick example, one friend had an ant problem, tried all the standard ways to get them out of his house with no luck. After reading the book, it took him about less than one hour to "get" them to move outside. As for me, one time at a junk yard in less than 5 minutes to make friends with a real junk yard dog that even the owner could not deal with.
God bless ya, Raggei - and keep on keeping on.