Blackie on her rounds. (Found at Mira Images)
They say that animals don’t “feel”.
Meet Blackie. At least that’s what we called her, as kids. It may even have been her real name, it’s been so long I’m no longer sure.
That’s Eddy Miller on his rounds with her. Hadn’t thought about Blackie for many years, despite the large part she played in my childhood, so imagine my surprise, if not joy, at stumbling on this image of her online!
She had been doing the job so long that she needed nothing more than the sound of empty bottles being loaded and she would walk, just as far as would be required to drop off the number of bottles in a crate, and stop, waiting patiently for the next chinking cue.
She knew every kid on the street, which ones would offer a rub, and which ones were most…
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Sue Vincent's Daily Echo 
Use the search box on my blog for “Jaak Panksepp,” father of affective neuroscience who has some pretty good research supporting his assertion that ALL mammals feel. “Is Activation “Seeking System” Dependent?” has the best info, btw.
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMore dot com)
– ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder –
“It takes a village to educate a world!”
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Thanks, Madelyn, I’ll have a look. I’m not sure it is only mammals though… not after watching the fish. x
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My sense is the same as yours – Jaak’s research focuses on mammals, however, so that’s his assertion (he is, after all, one of those science types). 🙂 He has been a strong advocate for cruelty-free animal experiments for several decades (his nickname is “the rat tickler” – from some research on rat laughter). VERY interesting man.
xx, mgh
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Rats are incredible creatures.
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I have a friend who keeps rats as pets. They don’t live more than 2 years, however. My heart couldn’t take getting attached to a critter with such a short life-span. And I attach easily and quickly.
xx,
mgh
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Rats make fabulous pets, but I agree, it is hard for us to adjust to lives lived so quickly x
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Shih Tzus live an average of 15-16 years and even that’s too short for me! But Great Danes are long-lived at 11, so I’m grateful. My current pup will be 2 at the end of October, so I’m looking forward to quite a few more years with him. ( My last one lived 19 years, and her death still tore me apart!) xx, mgh
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My Ani is a cross of Toller and Setter… they tend not to live very long lives, though I’m hoping the cross extends her time. I can’t imagine being without her.
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It’s the cost of loving – but a high cost when it comes due. From what I’ve read, crosses DO live longer – and that we can extend their lives with care, diet, love and attention (and I’m sure Ani gets the best there!)
xx,
mgh
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Ani is better looked after than I am 😉 However long we get, it is a privilege to share their lives.
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Absitively! xx, mgh
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Just looked up Toller – wasn’t familiar. I’ll bet she is absolutely gorgeous! xx, mgh
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She is 🙂 https://scvincent.com/2016/06/05/notes-from-a-small-dog-strange-goings-on/
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People who don’t think animals have feelings obviously have no awareness of soul.
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Anyone who has lived or worked with animals cannot fail to realise that they do.
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I left out the word n”no” before the word feelings! I wish I had checked for typos. I know they DO have feelings for sure!
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I understood that from your comment 🙂
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