Empathy for animals like dogs

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I have more empathy for animals than I do humans.
Does anyone else here feel animals have feelings?
Do you think your pets understand you?

I do sometimes think Josie understands me.
Most NT's think dogs are just dogs.

My animals are my life. My bestest friends.

I defiantly have more empathy for pets or animals in general, I have 3 ferrets and they communicate with me just like dogs do. and yes they have feelings and minds that do think, they also have empathy, and show love and affection. My ferrets understand me occasionally, when they are getting into trouble, they will look and see if I am paying attention, before causing trouble.

My lady friend went looking for her cat the other day, was worried that he'd jumped the wall and actually thought he might be dead (neighbors have some big mean dogs I later found out), and I laughed. Big freaking mistake. I didn't mean to be "mean" or anything, but I just couldn't see the point of worrying so much when the possibility was so small. Later the cat was found in the house, one of the more likely possiblities I tried to point out.

Anyway, I've no empathy for animals, tho I do avoid killing them, and even bugs. I enjoy my cat's company, tho I do not "connect" with him as others do with their pets. By having "no empathy" I mean I simply do not conncect, not that I'm a sadist or anything. I suppose I have *some* empathy, just not a bucketload.

I have a lot of empathy for animals and I do think they have feelings. My mother thought I should consider becoming a vet, but I can't handle seeing animals in pain. I opted for studying animal behavior and later on medical school...I can deal with seeing people in pain.

As I type my huge bear of a dog is snoring.

Yeah I can feel how sad my dog is, she is so small, can not do much tricks so she is not easy to play with wich has led my younger brother to just ignore her. Well for me, she is small,I am alergic to her and I am kind of turned off by her hygiene and it is like I can feel how sad she is, that my 3 other syblings take little nottice of her. Though every so often I play a game with her and can feel that she feels a bit better, also I am fearing that she might get a medical problem as I can feel that there is something on her mind. Like a little bit of pain, I can feel that she has rather taken a more luxcourus way like walking on grass now days. I can see her emotions on her face.

I've always related better to animals than to people. I love critters of all sorts (except snakes, spiders, and most bugs). When I meet someone walking a dog, I greet the dog and not the person! I can also remember animals' names better than peoples'. I used to know one lady in my apartment complex as Sarah's mom (Sarah is a dog).

I would call it sympathy...not empathy.

I just plain like animals better than people, especially dogs! They're usually more friendly, reliable, & trustworthy. Never yell or get abusive, & they offer unconditional love & acceptance. I can't say that about many human beings.

I definitely like animals better than people. Animals just aren't wantonly cruel for no reason like people. I definitely feel more empathy for animals especially cats.

Animals are just so readable, even reptiles. It's hard to not have empathy for them.

I love animals.


I feel nothing for people.

My cat...mmm...babysat my son when the baby was asleep. Joey was sleeping near him listening carefully if the child would wake up or cry when I was in another room. Now my son is 6 years old, and Joey seems to accept him as a kitten still
Anyway, children and animals understand one another better than people.

I have more empathy for companion animals, than I do for most people. People can be very nasty. Dogs love me unconditionally and cats worship me.

Yeah, I like animals. They're easier to deal with than people are.

My apologies for not reading further in this thread before responding but "empathy" implies the ability to identify with the emotional state of other persons; It does not mean "sympathy"!

Autistics may lack the motivation to manipulate others, but we mean well.

I ADORE animals and seem to relate 1:1 with animals. I have a special connection with animals.

Humans are the exception.....just not readable! Lab Pet finds humans can be confusing.


CockneyRebel and I know of a special pig named Cinderella with mesophobia, dirt/mud phobia!

gwynfryn, yes - that empathy vs. sympathy thing.....subtle but real difference. Animals are the best! And they do understand.

BTW, just by default, animals lack Theory of Mind, which is equivalent to the definition of autism; hence the parallel. Many with autism feel a special connection to animals.