Empathy for animals like dogs

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I respect animals.

Domestic cats aren't just the cuddly fluffy things most people make them out to be. They are destructive killers, and don't eat what they kill for the most part as they get fed anyway. As my ecologist friend was eager to point out, domestic cats are largely responsible for the song bird population decline in this country. Do I hold it against them? Definitely not. But it annoys me when cat owners complain about the off chance that an eagle owl might be nab poor tiddles, and try to argue that eagle owls are 'foreign' so should be removed, which is actually a baseless lie. It is a very remote chance unless you happen to live in a isolated pocket of Yorkshire, in which case you are probably used to predators. From the sound that cats make in the garden late at night, they have no problem breeding. They have no problem bringing up young in a protected environment. There is a far greater need to protect eagle owls. Some fool even suggested that they could nab lambs too. They are a big but not that big.

I like animals a lot. I'm big into ducks. I love them.

I also am into spiders. I remember when a little garden spider took up residence in the kitchen for a number of months, I really liked the little thing. It seem to calm my nerves. I was bummed when it died, but it had a good innings.

I like intelligent animals, but they can be changeling to keep. My dad used to have an African Grey parrot. While she was great fun some of the time, but they get bored easily and can drive you up the wall. It is like living with a mischievous 4 year old child that never grows up, and they can live 80+ years. They basically need 24 hour company. My dad is very aspie like me so he can't give that level of attention. Fortunately we found a great parrot haven, with loads of African Greys (it is mostly a grey haven), so she is having a wail of a time now.

I've always had empathy with animals. Animals are a lot more than furry robots programmed to respond to a pre-programmed set of stimulus/response. they certainly do have powerful drives that can take over but they are no different than us in how they pervieve the world around them and they most certainly have feelings. they may not have a sharp mind like humans do but thought is there in all but the lowest creatures to one degree or another. and emotion is visible in every animal except insects which are truly robotic in every way.

Pethics topic

I would rather deal with animals than humans. Just unconditional acceptance from them. I can talk to them and figure out what they communicate much better than humans.

Domestic pets are so dependent on their human caregivers that when they are mistreated, it makes me very sad, and then angry.

Theory of Mind is interesting! For whatever reason(s), discussion about ToM, or lack thereof, on WP, can weirdly become contentious. Unknown as to why.....what is one's opinion is irrelevant. ToM just is. Strange many take this personally...? It isn't. I think perhaps it's just not undertanding ToM and what ToM is not.

Yes, pack animals communicate - sure. I communicate too, so does everyone (mostly)! Communication does not necesarily equate to (lack of) ToM. Just doesn't. Might check out the diagnostic tool, the Sally-Anne Test.

Further, yes, animal communication (whatever that actually means, not really defined) just isn't equatable to human interaction. Specifically, it's not just a 'simpler version,' it's just qualitatively different.

In humans, ToM is a developmental stepwhich occurs quite uniformly between age 4 - 4.5 yrs. About levels? Maybe, but not really.....just not definitive. To clarify, this development happens, or it doesn't. ToM, by consensus, is not learnable. Sure, I can 'know' ToM VICARIOUSLY, but I do not possess it - that's the distinction.

As to 'no proof?' Hardly. Again, what I think or feel has no bearing on the research done! I am of no consequence to the science known. Not a matter of personal opinion. There is much written about ToM with real insights into what autism is! This is defensible and is a strong basis. Again, so weird this is a point of contention for so many. Personal emotions just cannot be overlaid upon what is ToM or the concept is confounding and baseless.

My opinion is not even an issue. I do not guess. Science is truth and this is the basis for ToM although it overlaps into the field of philosophy, but same for certain hard and fast concepts in physics, for example. There not just evidence, but real verifiable proof and application. Use Occam's Razor and look at the science: ToM is 'real,' not an imaginary or fanciful idea - quite the contrary. Many misconceptions, misinterpretations, and misapplication of ToM. Skip that, use logic. And read the multitudes of science journals that are verifiable, current and peer-reviewed. Opinions should be divorced from the science of ToM. Lab Pet does not guess.

Yikes....I am not a contentious being. I sure didn't mean to, by expression, 'touch a nerve!' Not my intent. Please no backlash.....

sartresue: I agree! Domestic animal mistreatment is just sick! I have a deep respect for animals. Alaska has much wildlife so respect is key. I love bears....but not to pet! Tourists can get eaten this way - good point 0_equals_true. I like mallard ducks too, and love owls. In AK there are whet owls, which are really small, relative to other owl species.

I have way more empathy for animals! I love animals. My cat just died, and I have been depressed like I lost a family member. None of my family understands. They barely miss the cat. I'm devastated. I cry all the time missing her. I didn't cry when my grandma died, granted we weren't close. I unfortunately live with my parents and am not allowed to get another pet. She was my best friend. I don't think NT's get attached like that. I also can't watch any movie where a animal get hurt. Any person, fine. Gore doesn't bug me. But a animal hurt freekes me out and bothers me forever even though I know its fake. And in real life, I think animal abusers should be punished in equally horrible ways to how they treated the animals. I hate animals in pain or sad. I want to save them all. I will probably end up being the crazy animal lady with a million rescued pets. Lol.

I feel for animals more than people. I was actually more emotional when my cat died than when my grandfather did. I don't know why... Probably more so as I thought he led a full and fruitful life, but I thought my cat was taken too soon.

Anyway - I feel more at ease around animals than people. They don't look at your actions as strange.

Have you guys been told you're good with animals? I get told that a lot - like it's enough for someone to randomly mention it. Do you think your condition might make you a better animal communicator? In my case it could just be my quietness, and the fact that since I don't often look people or animals in the eye, when I do I really mean something.

Animals are bluddy great.
Unconditionally loving.
Unjudgmental.
Totally accepting of any behaviour (other than hostility, of course).
Eternal friends.
Non-moody.
Non-infathomable.
You can credit them with as much thought, emotion and understanding as suits your requirement .... and they never say anything to negate it.
Brilliant inventions, IYAM.

I have a cat (semi-long-haired semi-Burmese .... funny, smart and affectionate).
I kind of like dogs, but they're not an ideal pet to me ... too smelly, dependent, big, boisterous, muddy and in-your-face.

I think I am weird because I feel more empathy for a bug than I do for a person or a dog. I am always scoping up crickets and spiders and putting them back outside in the garden. I get upset for days if someone purposely squashes one.