The Dink Network

Well, at the risk of sounding..whatever, let's go back to Scratcher's question: How do you know? What or how far can an animal's thoughts and feelings go? Now don't get me wrong cuz I'm not trying to stir up discontent with that question. Your post seems to dictate that you know the answers but what if you're wrong and they can contemplate or feel guilt? Maybe it's their emotions that are not developed. Maybe they are. Can we teach them right or wrong or higher intelligence? Such as that great ape that communicates with people thru a computer? Or the dolphins and other aquatics that swim with people and do great feats of intelligence? Or is it just simple training? I suspect that until we can actually learn how to communicate with "wild" animals, we won't know for a fact how far their intelligence or emotions extends. After all, science says we evolved from a single cell and look how far we've come.
We'll find out then if people want to shoot the animal that converses with him. Unless of course, said animal kept the more savage aspects and wants him for dinner. (Ok redink, here's your chance. Make a belly buster.)

And just to end my oh so logical argument (and to tease Tal a little bit also), I read sommmewhere that we will someday lie down alongside the lion and, boy, am I gonna ask him why that other cat ate my dog. baaaa!