I think animals are similar to humans, in a way that they have a diverse palette of personalities. There are assholes, maybe most are assholes, like humans.
Occasionally there are encounters that are different and the animal seems to understand and appreciate that you are a good human, a friend.
I live in the city and one night at 2am, i was at the window and a cat came by and sat at my window. I happened to have cat food at home, gave it some.
This became a small ritual, for the months to come, it came every night at 2am for a visit and, most importantly, the treats, obviously. I like to think they had a home and i was just a snack-stop during his nightly hunting.
Your backyard animals reminded me of the little guy, i mean ferocious hunting cat Furioso.
Doing animal rescue will mostly give you stressed animals, that are in full “oh shit, oh shit, oh shit” mode. “You’re gonna touch me?” “Take your bloody hands off me”
Relationships with animals can only happen in other situations, like your safe backyard, where the approach is mutual.
Someone thought he gives a shit about marine life, other than on his table, ready to eat?