February 2010

My Pet Loves Me, This I Know

Many of us are familiar with the term anthropomorphism. For those of us who have never heard the term, we’re familiar with its definition: applying human qualities to nonhumans, including inanimate objects such as children’s dolls and toys, machines, and animals. Most animal lovers are guilty of it—talking to our four-legged companions as if they understand what we’re saying, dressing them up in clothes, being absolutely certain that they love us and miss us when we’re not home. When it boils down to it, though, we all realize there is a difference between human animals and nonhuman animals.

Many people argue that nonhuman animals have deep wells of emotions. The chewed up shoes and shredded sofa indicate their loneliness when we leave; the wagging tails and purring upon our return must indicate love, or at the very least, affection.

Or, are the chewed shoes and shredded sofas indicators of high stress levels because a dog has been separated from her pack, or a cat from his pride? After all, domesticated dogs and cats are descendents of wild animals. To what extent do our companion animals actually have human characteristics, if at all? Are we living up to our reputation of being eccentric animal people by thinking Fluffy misses us when we leave? Or do animal lovers know something other people do not?

Do our companion animals actually love us?

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