I remember reading one of Ellen Whyte's recent stories on her weekly Katz Tales in the Star, where her resident cats each reacted differently to a new and temporary house guest, a tortoise. One couldn't be bothered, one made friends with the guest, while another was scared witless, even after the tortoise was released.
Below that column was a small piece about anthropomorphism - the attributing of human characteristics to animals and gods, among other things. So the question now begs: do animals have feelings just like us?
One part of society thinks so. If not, why do they go great lengths in providing the best for their pets? Why else would they shower their affection on their fuzzy (or furry, or scaly, etc) friends? It's pretty obvious both master and pet share a unique chemistry between one another. And we all know how it hurts when a family pet passes away after being with them for so long.
Then we have the few who treat them as they are. I'm sure we all loathe them for what they do to their pets just to make sure they behave.
And of course, let's not forget the scumbags who let their pets suffer and die in the most horrible ways possible. They deserve a place in hell.
But I digress: do they actually emote? Science argues that it's all instinctive behavior. I, like many others, think otherwise. But this debate has been going on for so long it's hard to actually side with one party when there's so much evidence being laid down by people all over the globe.
What do you think? Share your thoughts with me. (Though I'm positive everyone would agree animals do feel!) Maybe I might group everyone's say and send it over to Ellen Whyte to be published in the Star. Well, hopefully.
