A while ago, while doing some research for an article I was writing about the ins and outs of running an obedience school for dogs, I asked the person with whom I was speaking if they would also be interested in being interviewed for the regular feature I write in the Toronto Star called, Pet Psyche.  I explained it was a lighthearted take on the questionnaire made famous by French novelist Marcel Proust in which pet owners answer on behalf of their furry friends.

There was a brief silence, followed by a clearing of the throat.  My interviewee then politely explained that he knew of the column and had read it once, and would be happy to talk about life as a dog trainer, but would have to pass on the other article as he did not believe in anthropomorphizing animals – or in other words, assigning human attributes to them.

Fair enough I thought.

In the relatively short time I’ve been actively involved in the world of animal welfare and advocacy I’ve discovered it resembles a rich tapestry in which multiple layers and textures and colours are all woven together to create something beautiful – the collective love of animals.

To me, the idea of anthropomorphization is a fascinating one – and renowned ecologist and writer,  Carl Safina explores this multifaceted notion in his thought-provoking TED Talk (October 2015) What are animals thinking and feeling?

At one point, Carl explains that “… attributing human thoughts and emotions to other species is the best first guess about what they’re doing and how they’re feeling because their brains are basically the same as ours, they have the same structures – the same hormones that create mood and motivation in us are in those brains as well.” 

Simply put, Carl goes on to say, we don’t need science to determine that an animal is hungry when it is hunting, or tired when it’s panting with its tongue hanging out, “and then say when they’re playing with their children and acting joyful and happy we have no idea if they can possibly be experiencing anything.  That is not scientific.”

                                Kathy Stevens with the indomitable Rambo – Catskill Animal Sanctuary.

Another striking example of an animal displaying emotions we usually attribute to human beings comes from Kathy Stevens, Founder & ED of Catskill Animal Sanctuary.  In the short video below she describes a life-changing encounter with one of her rescues – a magnificent sheep named Rambo.

As Kathy was getting ready to close up the barn one evening, Rambo ran up to her, looked her straight in the eye, and bleated very pointedly, “Baaaaa!”  Recognizing his sense of urgency, she asked him to show her what was wrong.  Rambo walked down the barn and into an empty stall, turned around and looked at her.  Somehow, Kathy had forgotten to bring in the sanctuary’s two turkeys for the night, and Rambo was telling her as much.

“He knew those birds were out there, he knew they weren’t supposed to be, he figured out how to tell a human being.  He knew that I would help them which made me understand that he gets what this place is – and he had empathy.  A sheep who had never known kindness had empathy for two animals who were in trouble – and knew that I would help them.  And that moment changed my life.”  

What I have discovered from interviewing pet owners from all walks of life is that they love their animal companions a great deal.  And, while guessing what their furry or feathered or even finned friend might be “thinking” can be a humorous, tongue-in-cheek exercise at times – it also demonstrates a deep and profound connection between the two of them.  Humans are attuned to the moods and needs and preferences of their animal companions, and the nature of their relationship allows them to recognize joy and sadness and worry as easily as hunger and fatigue – which, as Carl Safina points out, are not based on scientific analysis, but rather the recognition of a state of being.

When the end game is a more compassionate world – and in particular, the humane treatment of all species – every person who makes that their mission is entitled to forge their own path – and form their own conclusions when it comes to relating to the non-human types among us.