Is the tendency to morally prioritize humans over animals weaker in children than adults? In two preregistered studies (total N = 622), 5- to 9-year-old children and adults were presented with moral dilemmas pitting varying numbers of humans against varying numbers of either dogs or pigs and were asked who should be saved. In both studies, children had a weaker tendency than adults to prioritize humans over animals. They often chose to save multiple dogs over one human, and many valued the life of a dog as much as the life of a human. Although they valued pigs less, the majority still prioritized 10 pigs over one human. By contrast, almost all adults chose to save one human over even 100 dogs or pigs. Our findings suggest that the common view that humans are far more morally important than animals appears late in development and is likely socially acquired.
Day 4 of puppy and I absolutely cannot imagine trying to do this while holding down a job haha. Having these holidays off has been a godsend for training, bathroom trips, and general supervision. Thankfully I’ve got next week off so I’m optimistic that we’ll have her on a pretty good schedule by then.
Biggest challenge so far is keeping her away from a bamboo plant stand that we’ve got against the wall. Most other things we’ve been able to get her away from with toy distractions, treats, calls, or some combination, but this one she won’t leave. She chews the shiiit out of it.
Have you tried cinnamon spray? I think that’s it. They make stuff in spray form that triggers a heat response in the animal and keeps them away from it in the future
West highland white terrier. Impossible to take for a walk but I take him to dog park daily, at least once. This year I’ve clocked ~200 rounds of disc golf and he’s seen them all, I’d say he’s a 6/5* companion overall.
Had fondue for dinner last night which was great. Put the oil on the back stoop to cool and apparently the dog go into it. Spent the night cleaning up my dogs barf!
Thought I would remind people of the non-fun side of pets!
The ribs showing are partly breed but mostly from the protein loss and high dose steroids. Once his protein numbers rebound (results pending from Thursday blood draw) he should pack some meat back on.
I don’t know if this is an advice post or what. I think I know it’s the end of the road but I just don’t want to face it. This guy has had a pretty rough weekend:
He actually turned 14 on Christmas. He was diagnosed with a heart murmur about 7 years ago and heart failure about 6 months ago. He has been on lasix and a heart med that has been helping since. I’ve always said to myself I would put him down when he took the big downturn and it seems like it might be here. He has been coughing/wheezing much more the past 3 nights to the point where it has gotten kind of scary.
The hard part is he still loves treats, still tries to get me to play fetch with his beloved tennis ball (which I have been mostly avoiding to not exert him too much) and still gets around fine. So he has some quality of life but I also don’t want to hang on too long and make him suffer. I’ve had him since he was a puppy(technically my soon to be wife got him about the time she moved in) and he has been attached to my hip ever since. Here is a super grainy 2006 cell phone puppy picture:
So I’m not sure what to do. I have been spending as much time with him as possible these last few days but I have been having a major sad.
He is still trying to play and interact so he is giving you a little time to adjust and Say good-bye. There is a look they give you when they are done. Might be this week might be down the road. Our long timers had a major seizure and the other refused treats. They say panting is a sign.
With the seizure we cried after cause it was sudden. With the food refusal dog we cried before because we saw that look.
Yep, my cancer ridden dog when I was younger one day just started howling and stopped only to look at us to tell us to stop the pain. We took him that day. There appeared to be a relief in his eyes after they gave him the shot but before his heart stopped.
Its a damn shame these things we love with all our hearts will never live as long as us. Each time we make the decision to put one down, our hearts rip a little.
Good luck Witchita. I would venture to guess once he stops doing the things he loves (eating treats, playing ball) it will be time.
Dashing through the snow 
