A follow up on a previous post about animal emotions. NPR had an additional broadcast on this interesting subject. [npr.org]
Anyone who does not think animals have emotions has not spent much time watching and listening to them.
We got a female Lab puppy that immediately became crazy about our big furry rescue mix boy...every night he would put himself in a circle of his treasured toys ( he had none until he came here at about age 8) and the puppy would slooooowly roll, crawl, and stretch until one was ("suddenly!" ) in reach, and they would be Off! Repeat until they both needed a nap, for months & months.
The big boy passed away very unexpectedly & quickly.
3 nights later, I walk into the living room and there was the (not-so puppy anymore), centered in a circle of those toys, with Such an expectant look on her face ("If this doesn't bring him, nothing will!" ).
I burst into tears.
She never did that behavior again.
Have had many such experiences with dogs......
"She's weird. She talks to her animals." Not much on terrestrial radio other than NPR.
Sooo lemme just say one thing about that: talk to a dog, or talk to drump........yer choice!