01-12-2025, 05:29 PM
It was not thought that animals have the complex emotions that humans have. Therefore they would not be able to grieve a loss.
Any studies now are recognizing that animals have very complex emotions. They form strong bonds and they do feel deeply when they lose that other individual.
After seriously observing animals, it has to be concluded that they grieve.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250...their-dead
Animals definitely grieve. Some will even die if a partner dies. I have seen dwarf hamsters just stop living if a mate dies. They didn't stave to death. They were gone too soon for that. The hamster left behind just stared into space and was gone in 24-48 hours. I have seen guinea pigs go too, when a companion dies.
It was only our narrow thinking about animals that caused us to see them as lesser beings, incapable of deep feelings.
We know better now and we should have sympathy for our animal friends when they suffer a loss.
Any studies now are recognizing that animals have very complex emotions. They form strong bonds and they do feel deeply when they lose that other individual.
After seriously observing animals, it has to be concluded that they grieve.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250...their-dead
Animals definitely grieve. Some will even die if a partner dies. I have seen dwarf hamsters just stop living if a mate dies. They didn't stave to death. They were gone too soon for that. The hamster left behind just stared into space and was gone in 24-48 hours. I have seen guinea pigs go too, when a companion dies.
It was only our narrow thinking about animals that caused us to see them as lesser beings, incapable of deep feelings.
We know better now and we should have sympathy for our animal friends when they suffer a loss.
![[Image: IMG_9091.JPG]](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rtQnRVnpHuw/Upv4HXYM20I/AAAAAAAAAqo/K5MmSTvkZdA/w296-h229-p-no/IMG_9091.JPG)
Catherine
