Instinct or Emotion?
The New York Times recently published an article wondering if animals feel regret, remorse, or sorrow.
Scientists and biologists hotly debate the topic, but if you own a pet, you know the answer. Of course they do. And not just regret, but also love, affection, fear, and joy.
May I share a few stories that support my point? And I’d love to hear your animal tales as well.
I recently had to have my cat, Franki, euthanized. She had thrown a clot, which had lodged in the artery leading to her hind leg. She had advanced heart disease. She couldn’t walk or stand. She could barely breathe. She was in pain. I had no choice, but I was heartbroken. The night before the vet was to make this final, sad housecall, I slept on the floor to be near her. And, though she was in extreme discomfort, she did what she always did when I was sad. She purred as loud as she could, she licked my face and my arms; she rested her paw on my shoulder. She comforted me.
Franki had been buddies with my other cat, Tiny. The two followed each other around; they reclined side by side under the window at the spot where the sun streamed in; they constantly groomed each other. They were, without a doubt, BFFs. After the vet took Franki’s lifeless body away to be cremated, I wasn’t the only one sobbing. Tiny mourned, too. She went from room to room, mewing and searching for her friend. Even now, two months later, Tiny is still subdued.
Wild animals also express emotion. I found a baby mockingbird on the ground a few years back – too young to fly. On a hunch that its mom might be nearby, I placed it on a bench in my front yard. Sure enough, the mother bird showed up and fed the baby. So, every day for two weeks, I placed the bird on the bench several times a day. Mom would visit and feed it. At night, I brought it inside, where it was warm and safe from predators. Then, one day, the young bird flapped its wings – and flew away. Several months later, I was doing a little gardening. And a mockingbird flew up to me, almost landing on my shoulder and fearlessly hovered near me for several seconds before flying away. Could it have been that same bird? No way to know for sure . . . but how often does a wild bird land on one’s shoulder?
Here’s a warm-and-fuzzy article and video that I know you’ll love – and I think supports my point: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/09/assignment_america/main4085323.shtml
Do animals have feelings? I’d love to hear your thoughts and stories!
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