Posted on 05/16/2009 4:22:51 PM PDT by JoeProBono
For centuries, humans have imagined they are the only animals with morals. But humans are not alone in the moral arena, a new breed of behavior experts says. Natural historian Jake Page said some scientists are acknowledging what pet owners have told their canines all along: "Good dog."
Dogs are full of natural goodness and have rich emotional lives, said animal behaviorist Marc Bekoff, professor emeritus at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
A dog's code of ethics is on display daily in parks, backyards and family rooms. "We're not trying to elevate animals," Bekoff said. "We're not trying to reduce humans. We're not saying we're better or worse or the same. We're saying we're not alone in having a nuanced moral system." Page, author of "Do Dogs Smile?," said biology no longer dismisses dogs and other animals as "furry automatons" driven by instinct and food. "People like Bekoff have figured out how to measure these things," Page said. "It's a whole new ballgame for studying dog personalities and emotions." Bekoff, co-author of "Wild Justice: The Moral Lives of Animals," spent thousands of hours observing coyotes, wolves and dogs. He analyzed videotapes frame by frame. The work convinced him these animals possess empathy and compassion, the emotions upon which moral sense is built. While much the same can be said of monkeys, wolves, elephants, dolphins, whales and other social animals, dogs are special cases; they share in human lives, he said. "Dogs know they are dependent. They learn to read us," Bekoff said.
"Dogs develop this great sense of trust. We're tightly linked, and there is something spiritual about that unity."
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
I have loved all my dogs, but they do not have souls.
“Why do you only ask this question of someone who believes dogs do have souls? Those that say the don’t are also claiming to know God’s aim. Think about that”
Because we have Gods word to tell us of his intention. His Word places humans above the animals and clearly states humans have souls. It does not say animals have souls.
Just as the only good Democrat is a _ _ _ _ one. The blank is interchangeable with breeder,pet store or Democrat, take your pick.
I deal with the rescue of trembling animals every week, no koolaid.
People that “buy” a dog from a breeder or a pet store or anywhere for that matter, are very selfish people. There is no need to “buy a dog” from anywhere, there are plenty of dogs in shelters that need a home.
Mark Levin agrees with me.
Agreed. Dogs are trusting animals and they instinctly know who they can trust and who they can’t. The are pack animals and their human masters are the leaders of their pack. The relationship between human and dog is built on mutual respect. The case where this does not work is where there is an idiot human or a idiot dog. Mostly the idiot human is to blame.
I currently foster a dog for a 501(c)3 rescue. That said, I have a totally different view of the people who cause dogs to be dumped at shelters.
Get through to the irresponsible pet owners and the factory farm commercial breeders.
And factory farm commercial breeders are NOT the same as dedicated hobby breeders.
You know the saying, the only good Animal Rights whack job is a _ _ _ _ one.
Have a nice day.
Jesus loves you and so do I :)
I completely agree that there will be animals in heaven. It wouldn’t be heaven without them!
I saw this over on my.arfie.com and thought it was funny. Albeit, photoshop had a hand in creating it I’m sure.
http://my.arfie.com/profiles/blogs/if-my-dogs-cant-go-to-heaven-i
Gee, you must be a delightful person to be with.
Glad you are all knowing..and know explicitly that there is no spiritual connection among God’s creatures that aren’t human. wish i were that “smart”.......
Just call me Anthromorphically Challenged and still in awe of God’s mysteries.
Another poster who knows ALL of God’s mysteries. You must have gotten an A in science class in junior high.
Oh,,,by the way...HOW exactly do you know we humans have souls?
Guess its just a good guess, huh?
what wonderfully angry people these parishoners must be to even put up a sign like that!
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LOL!
thanks for your post. appreciate that.
Guess you have never heard of humans, in dire straights, ( ie trapped in an avalanche, etc) eating their human counterparts...guess the hunger must be stronger than their ‘souls”.
thanks for your post. You said it more clearly than I could have.
Beautifully put...better than my snippy caustic comments. ha.
Very articulate.
I’m convinced that animals don’t have souls. And there are a lot of soulless humans around, too. Check the White House, LOL! :)
Hub and I always had rescue dogs, all our married life, until the last few years, when I got a minpin from a hobby breeder, and then we went and got a mastiff from another breeder.
Both breeders were very responsible and required the dogs be neutered at or before 6 months, certified them free of disease and the mastiff breeder gave a lifetime guarantee on temperament and freedom from hereditary disease. That was money and time well spent.
Usually, before, we would get the older dogs who weren’t as likely to find a home as the cute puppies. We were never disappointed in the quality, but they did have shortened lives due to their age when we got them. I think people get dogs, then when they start to age, they don’t want to put them down so they give them to a rescue or shelter.
My sister went to a rescue to adopt a puppy, after numerous family conferences, and they were put through the wringer by the rescue organization. They met all the qualifications, then were refused because they had a certain kind of lock on their gate, and the breeder didn’t like it. They refused to have it changed, and the breeder got very snotty with them, called them irresponsible, etc. This was a dealer installed gate on a very nice fence. I figured the rescue lady had a cash offer from another client, and was just looking for an excuse to turn my sister and her family down.
So they went to the SPCA, got a puppy AND a kitten with no difficulty, and now they and their children are having a wonderful time, as anyone would expect, with the two.
Some of the rescue organizations are worse than homeowner’s organizations. When rescue puppies stop being the accessory of the week, they’ll lighten up. Maybe.
I thought my 3 page mastiff contract was complicated. Hah! Nothing compared to the rescue freak.
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