Letters to the Editor
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anthropomorphized a dog or cat
I think it's more accurate to say "as anyone who has anthropomorphized a dog or cat believes." Dogs may feel "joy" at dinnertime, but I think it's a stretch (or delusional thinking) to believe dogs or cats are "full of consiousness and joy."
I feel sorry for this poster who obviously never had a close relationship with a dog. There are tons of documented stories about dogs suffering from depression, seperation anxiety, and intense joy (not to mention other feelings). The more we study domesticated dogs, the more we see the intricate feelings that shape their consciousness. I am always amazed when people discredit another species capacity to feel. It is what drives our complicity in animal cruelty. As a species, we have a long, long way to go.