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bones_IV
Guest
Since animals don’t have a free will like we humans do, they can’t have feelings. Is this correct?
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paramedicgirl
Guest
Of course animals have feelings. Dogs yelp when they are in pain, they whine when they want attention, and cats’ hair stands on end when they are scared. Animals don’t have souls that give them everlasting life, but they most certainly have feelings. Just ask any dog lover!
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Karianne
Guest
Are you sure that animals don’t go to Heaven with us? I agree with the rest of your post, but I’m not sure that God doesn’t have a plan for His animals just like he has for us.Of course animals have feelings. Dogs yelp when they are in pain, they whine when they want attention, and cats’ hair stands on end when they are scared. Animals don’t have souls that give them everlasting life, but they most certainly have feelings. Just ask any dog lover!
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bones_IV
Guest
I don’t think they do. Cause yelp to pain in my opinion is a reaction.Of course animals have feelings. Dogs yelp when they are in pain, they whine when they want attention, and cats’ hair stands on end when they are scared. Animals don’t have souls that give them everlasting life, but they most certainly have feelings. Just ask any dog lover!
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mary_bobo
Guest
Ask a dog lover, indeed. Dogs know when you are down, they know when you want to be left alone, they know to be more gentle with kids and old folks. And as far as their having everlasting life, I always believed as a kid what my Irish grandmother told me–if I needed my dogs in heaven to be happy, they would be there."Of course animals have feelings. Dogs yelp when they are in pain, they whine when they want attention, and cats’ hair stands on end when they are scared. Animals don’t have souls that give them everlasting life, but they most certainly have feelings. Just ask any dog lover!
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SeekerJen
Guest
Really?
I have two cats who come up to us just to be picked up and held, so they can purr into our ears and nuzzle our faces. One of the cats formed a special bond with me when I first met him in the shelter, and is the one who sits with me when I am sad and follows me around when I am sick. My rabbit was so upset the last time we went on vacation that when we got home, she refused to leave her cage but instead sulked and whined to let us know that she was upset with us. According to my parents, who had cared for her, she was fine while we were gone. The sulking was completely for our punishment.
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Maria3m
Guest
Of course they do. It’s especially visible in a dog…their tail wags when they are happy or curls down when afraid.
Many owners will tell you if they are gone for an extended period their pet may give them the cold shoulder.
I’ve always been taught animals don’t have souls & cease to exist when they die. However, if you do a search (I just found some info mentioning it, but not the original article) you’ll find there were several Popes who stated animals have souls and will go to heaven. Pope JPII in 1990 was one.
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paramedicgirl
Guest
I didn’t say that animals don’t go to heaven. I said they don’t have immortal souls. If God wants us to have animals in heaven, they will be there.
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paramedicgirl
Guest
Here is Michele Arnold’s response to questions about animals having souls.
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bones_IV
Guest
But in order for it to be a feeling it has be exercised out of free does it not? That’s all I’m arguing here.
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paramedicgirl
Guest
Dogs have many of the same emotions people do, including, joy, happiness, excitement, grief, sorrow and rage.
Take a look at these eyes, and tell me there’s no emotion there!
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Al_Masetti
Guest
Can they contemplate their own deaths at a time when they are not dying?
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water
Guest
Of course, they do. I have two dogs who are so happy when they see me home. They have feelings towards those who love them and also those who abuse them.
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johnnycatholic
Guest
Emotions do not come from having free will. When somebody spits in your face, your emotions kick in to help you figure out how to deal with the situation. Your initial reaction is probably anger or hurt, which you don’t choose. God gives us these instincts to help us survive.
When an animal becomes frightened (an emotion) his fight or flight instinct kicks in. The emotion is just a stepping stone to the action.
Human emotions are much more complex because of our higher intellects, and we can use them to sin by dwelling on anger until it becomes hate or letting sadness become despair. However, emoting is not free will. Any woman with hormones will tell you that.
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Red_Wolf
Guest
Do animals have feelings? Yes!!!
Dogs don’t yelp in pain; they yelp when they think they can manipulate. Have seen them take great pain without a sound. Also have seen them yelp in no pain, because they were trying to manipulate.
We’re both natural predators and naturally social. We feel the same language! Interesting dealing with prey animals.
Have a 1200 pound horse thinks he’s a dog, and the bull of the woods. Lot of up side to a horse heals, points, tracks and retrieves. No kidding, he has been seen chasing a cougar (obviously had more sense than General Custer; was afraid of a crazy horse) out of his territory. And he’s not broke. I can bring him from threatening to submissive with one gesture: crossing my arms. If he doesn’t behave to my standards, he can forget about any cooperation from me; works like a charm. Predators seem to want to belong; prey seem to want respect.
Also have talking birds and they have no qualms about telling me exactly what they want. And they play the same games as children play. Also say “bless you” when I sneeze extra hard.
The line is not nearly as clear as was explained to me 50 years ago.
Bones IV,
Get some animals, ain’t natural for people to live without close contact with animals, and you will see that we’re not nearly as different as some let on.
Dogs don’t yelp in pain; they yelp when they think they can manipulate. Have seen them take great pain without a sound. Also have seen them yelp in no pain, because they were trying to manipulate.
We’re both natural predators and naturally social. We feel the same language! Interesting dealing with prey animals.
Have a 1200 pound horse thinks he’s a dog, and the bull of the woods. Lot of up side to a horse heals, points, tracks and retrieves. No kidding, he has been seen chasing a cougar (obviously had more sense than General Custer; was afraid of a crazy horse) out of his territory. And he’s not broke. I can bring him from threatening to submissive with one gesture: crossing my arms. If he doesn’t behave to my standards, he can forget about any cooperation from me; works like a charm. Predators seem to want to belong; prey seem to want respect.
Also have talking birds and they have no qualms about telling me exactly what they want. And they play the same games as children play. Also say “bless you” when I sneeze extra hard.
The line is not nearly as clear as was explained to me 50 years ago.
Bones IV,
Get some animals, ain’t natural for people to live without close contact with animals, and you will see that we’re not nearly as different as some let on.
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Victorious
Guest
Babies and little children have feelings, even though they are not yet in full possession of their capacity to exercise free will.
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bones_IV
Guest
Here’s one thing that really makes me angry that there is medical attention devoted to animals simply because their owners have the money to pay for it while many human beings do not get any attention at all. HYPOCRISY! All I’m saying is that human beings are essentially superior to animals.
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Red_Wolf
Guest
If I understand you correctly, your original post was just a faint. Do animals have feelings → do animals have free will → do animals have better medical care than some people; and aren’t people superior to animals?
Before I reply, what is your ultimate point? Just so I can be on topic, you understand.
Before I reply, what is your ultimate point? Just so I can be on topic, you understand.
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bones_IV
Guest
I’m saying that our society puts too much emphasis on animal suffering. The Church teaches that only human beings have rights because only they have an immortal soul, which is the source of their reason. Animals, then, do not have rights. Today the odd thing is that, while many think it is OK to abort the unborn human being, they also think that animals have rights just as if the animals were human beings. This is very odd. Another thing innocent human beings have fewer rights than the animals these days.
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Red_Wolf
Guest
It ain’t that neat. Not here now, but much of the produce of the world depends upon animals. Meat, of course, depends upon animals.
I’m trying to tell you that productive animals have long had an advantage over people when it comes to their owner’s call to spend for medical treatment.
What is spent for pets, is not just that; also comes more knowledge that benefits all species.
Our society is out of whack. Only puts value on suffering that contributes to a political agenda. ALL SUFFERING HAS VALUE!!!
Wow! Your post changed while I was writing this.
I’m through with this thread. Much of what has been developed for our general good was developed working with animals (not talking about lab experiments) that are either part of our food production or our companions.
I’m trying to tell you that productive animals have long had an advantage over people when it comes to their owner’s call to spend for medical treatment.
What is spent for pets, is not just that; also comes more knowledge that benefits all species.
Our society is out of whack. Only puts value on suffering that contributes to a political agenda. ALL SUFFERING HAS VALUE!!!
Wow! Your post changed while I was writing this.
I’m through with this thread. Much of what has been developed for our general good was developed working with animals (not talking about lab experiments) that are either part of our food production or our companions.
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