If you are an animal lover you probably have a dog. Dogs have been humans’ companions for thousands of years. We refer to them as “man’s best friend”. No other animal shares as close a relationship with humans as dogs do.
One of the hottest questions in the study of animal behavior is, “Do animals have emotions?” And the simple answer is “yes they do”.
The late Jane Goodall has shown us through her research at the Gombe National Reserve in Tanzania that we share 98% of our DNA with chimpanzees. Chimps often greet one another with a kiss, hug, or a gentle hand touch. Babies stay with their mothers until they reach adulthood. All of these behaviors were researched and observed by Dr. Goodall for so many years.
Animal emotions aren’t all that mysterious. Just look at them and what we see tells us what is inside these animal’s heads and hearts. Just like humans, a mother bonds with her offspring and animals mate and love just like we do.
As humans we need to respect, protect and promote animal welfare because love is in all living things.