Empathy, which is among the complex human emotions, is the ability to connect with another person, sense whatever they’re feeling, and respond emotionally in a similar way. It is the ability to put oneself in another’s shoes that distinguishes us as truly human.
But are animals such as dogs capable of such a feeling? Or are we merely anthropomorphising them?
Studies suggest that dogs can demonstrate empathy for us humans, their fellow dogs, and strangers. Not all scientists who study animals agree that these creatures have cognitive emotions, but most dog owners attribute some human characteristics to dogs.
Dogs are one of the oldest domesticated animals. They have lived with our kind, observing our every action, emotion, or mood.
Their ability to read our emotions brought them to the rank of “man’s best friend.” More studies found that dogs’ emotional and mental capacities are like that of a toddler.
Since scientific data show that toddlers can already show empathy, experts can conclude that dogs are indeed capable of being empathic towards beings. This behavior was already tested by scientists who want to find out if dogs can show concern for both their owners and dogs.
The experiments usually involve having dogs listen to the cry of a human voice and canines in distress. Today, we’re going to look at a story of a dog who showed empathy for her fellow dog by asking humans to rescue her friend.
A sickly-looking stray canine in Romania approached some people and offered her paw in the hopes of being rescued, but she wouldn’t abandon her pal.
Fortunately, the strangers that this dog approached are from the animal rescue. The team searched for the other dog for more than an hour.
The rescuers took the two dogs to the vet.
Elsa, the dog who approached the team, sadly had a skin condition. Her pink skin was so sore.
For her to recover, medical baths were required for two months. The other dog, Hugo, found a forever home immediately.
This wasn’t the case for Elsa. To make things worse, her large size caused her to be shunned by other dogs.
After six months, she recovered. Eventually, she was sent to a foster home.
She was supposed to spend only a couple of days in her foster home.
But when it was finally decided who will adopt her, her foster parents Andrea and Maria, couldn’t just let her go. It seems that they’ve become attached to the dog.
We hope that everything was settled and that Elsa is finally getting the love and care she deserves. What she did for her friend was truly admirable.
Even dog owners don’t know what exactly their dogs are feeling. Yet their actions tell us that they can show empathy for humans and other animals.
This story is a great example of a dog’s empathy. Such an action tells us that canines might have innate concern for the welfare of other beings.
Empathy may be an attribute of us humans. But it seems that dogs are very capable of this emotion as well.