and why the hell can't people see people as animals?

Why can’t people see animals as animals?

I would say the people who distinguish between human animals and all other animal life far outnumber those who don't see such a clear distinction.

Anthropomorphizing simply trivializes inter-species communication, reducing, for example, a dog's nervous energy when reuniting with its alpha human to the familiar "love."

But when a gorilla paints an abstract picture strongly resembling a hot pepper, and then names that painting, through sign language, "Pepper," there is some strong evidence that perhaps we share some signifieds with other species, even if we can only share signifiers with a select few great apes.

People who keep dogs know that dogs experience a kind of anxiety, that they often seem to smile or laugh during play, that they exhibit something that resembles shame or guilt when they are in trouble.

Some people are fascinated by the stuff we share in common with other specied and are informed by it.

But then some people dress up their pookies and snookums in goofy costumes that I think would be humiliating to whatever degree the other species is capable of humility. I suppose some parents threat their human children similarly.

I can't stand pet people who act as if fido is some sort of replacement for a child.

Cut the fucking baby talk, it's a dog. He licks his balls, craps in the yard and humps legs. He's not a baby.

That's a very uncharitable attitude, !, both to people and their dogs -- not to mention the exquisite pleasures of ball licking, leg humping and, er, a nice crap.

I would probably crap in my yard if I could.

Toby? The dog says his name's Kunta Kintae.