Animal friendships

[Carl in Michigan]

 

[buttercup]

That was SO sweet. The look on her face while looking at the baby... Precious, thanks for sharing it.

 

[Carl in Michigan]

That was SO sweet. The look on her face while looking at the baby... Precious, thanks for sharing it.

The great apes can hardly be called "animals.," theyre closer to human, but better than most

 

[buttercup]

The great apes can hardly be called "animals.," theyre closer to human, but better than most

Yep. This could be a good topic for a thread of its own, but when you hear about how unjustly even the most intelligent animals (like apes) are treated* ... it makes me think that the animal rights activists are correct in wanting personhood to be granted to certain obviously sentient animals. I know that's controversial and many here probably think that's crazy, but as you said, they really are closer to human, yet in most cases they have zero legal protection.

* for example, Tommy's story. This was written by my friend Kathy:

Tommy the chimpanzee dies alone in his prison cell

Tommy the chimpanzee died alone in his cage, having lived a life of pain and loneliness. Is this right? Should animals have basic rights?

www.shepherdingcreation.com

 

[Carl in Michigan]

Yep. This could be a good topic for a thread of its own, but when you hear about how unjustly even the most intelligent animals (like apes) are treated* ... it makes me think that the animal rights activists are correct in wanting personhood to be granted to certain obviously sentient animals. I know that's controversial and many here probably think that's crazy, but as you said, they really are closer to human, yet in most cases they have zero legal protection.

* for example, Tommy's story. This was written by my friend Kathy:

Tommy the chimpanzee dies alone in his prison cell

Tommy the chimpanzee died alone in his cage, having lived a life of pain and loneliness. Is this right? Should animals have basic rights?

www.shepherdingcreation.com

Animals DO have basic rights, just as we have rights. The problem is HUMANS don't respect those rights just as humans don't respect the rights of certain other human beings (crime, slavery, etc).

Humans can't grant rights (God has done that). We can only recognize and honor them.

 

[Ringo]

 

[buttercup]

Animals DO have basic rights, just as we have rights. The problem is HUMANS don't respect those rights just as humans don't respect the rights of certain other human beings (crime, slavery, etc).

Humans can't grant rights (God has done that). We can only recognize and honor them.

Of course animals have basic rights that come from God. I was talking about legal personhood. That's what I was referring to when I said that the idea is controversial and maybe crazy-sounding to some... to legally apply personhood to certain animals. But hey, like you said, they're almost as smart as some people, and definitely better "people" than many people, lol.

 

[Carl in Michigan]

Here's a definition:
rationality, consciousness, the attitude or stance taken by society, capacity for reciprocity, capability for verbal communication, and a self-consciousness

Great Apes seem to hav these qualities.
I've never been a "bird person," but thru someone I know who is, I've seen how "human" even birds can be. They play, joke, bond with good people, and display self awareness. This is why I've slowly given up killing and eating any living creature for food or "taste." I've learned there really are few differences

 

[Carl in Michigan]

They still remember Dad

 

[buttercup]

They still remember Dad

Words cannot express how much I love elephants. Thanks for sharing that.

It reminds of that really cool story about a man who had worked with elephants for many years, and he died.... and for some inexplicable reason, somehow the elephants knew that he had died... and they traveled a long way to his house to pay their respects, in a funeral-like procession. IIRC they stayed there for a few days and then left.

 

[Carl in Michigan]

Words cannot express how much I love elephants. Thanks for sharing that.

It reminds of that really cool story about a man who had worked with elephants for many years, and he died.... and for some inexplicable reason, somehow the elephants knew that he had died... and they traveled a long way to his house to pay their respects, in a funeral-like procession. IIRC they stayed there for a few days and then left.

Only occasionally do we pay enough attention to the "beasts" to realize they experience every emotion we do

 

[Carl in Michigan]

I thought this was a tree branch! I can't believe how impatient people can be

 

[buttercup]

I thought this was a tree branch! I can't believe how impatient people can be

Interesting how he was putting his arm up like that. It always restores my faith in humanity to see a kind-hearted person rescue a sloth or another animal from being stuck in the middle of the street, probably paralyzed with fear. Sloths are precious.

 

[Carl in Michigan]

Interesting how he was putting his arm up like that. It always restores my faith in humanity to see a kind-hearted person rescue a sloth or another animal from being stuck in the middle of the street, probably paralyzed with fear. Sloths are precious.

They are amazing creatures.

 

[Carl in Michigan]

Telling your old dog that she doesn't have cancer

 

[buttercup]

hehee... "Just be cool, my Mom won't mind"

 

[Ringo]

A crow helps a hedgehog cross the road

 

[buttercup]

A crow helps a hedgehog cross the road

Crows are so smart! And a hero for helping that little hedgehog get out of harm's way.

 

[Ringo]

 

[buttercup]

Look at how this donkey comforts his bestie who fell. Who says animals don't have empathy....