[TigersEye]

a). Personally don't consider animals, including dolphins to be fully sentient.

Sentience isn't something that comes in grades like full, half empty, complete or partial.

sentient

Main Entry: sen·tient
Pronunciation: \ˈsen(t)-sh(ē-)ənt, ˈsen-tē-ənt\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin sentient-, sentiens, present participle of
sentire to perceive, feel
Date: 1632
1 : responsive to or conscious of sense impressions (sentient beings) 2 : aware
3 : finely sensitive in perception or feeling

I'd say a dolphin fits any of those description.

[JSDude1]

I don’t know how sentient/intelligent dolphins are, but God once used a jack*- the animal to literally talk to a man, as a warning!!!