I loved this book, much of it is very sad, however, it is well written with many examples of the title. Ms. King, provides irrefutable evidence and example after example of animal grief.
I bought this book, because I had lost my beloved Jack Russell Terrier, "Shubael", (Old Nantucket name!) Shubael, had a kitty friend, who loved and cared for him in his declining years. The night before he died, she climbed into his bed and wrapped her paws around him, sheltering him and keeping him warm...she purred him to sleep and he rested comfortably, through the night. Since he died, she has not been the same. I bought this book, because I knew that animals grieved, they are like humans. Only many humans are too selfish, greedy, uncaring or disinterested to acknowledge that animals, grieve.
This work of Ms. King's is a watershed, in my opinion. It is easy to read, although the subject matter is difficult. If anyone has ever seen a group of horses surround a companion in death, then they will understand. Cows, do the same. I have heard of captive and wild birds, pass away soon after their bird friends have died. I have known cats, who do the very same.
This book shatters the long held beliefs that animals have no emotions or feelings. This book is a joy, in its own way to read. It gives credence, in written form to what many, many pets owners have surely known. Finally, there is an acknowledgement, to the evidence that many pet and animal owners have witnessed for years and years. Pigs, do it, sheep do it, dolphins do it, whales do it. Killer whales, do it!!! Some higher level, fish do it!!!
Death is also difficult, for most higher order animals. It is only humans, who up until this point, have decided that we are the only ones with any emotions. I have personally, seen animals wither and die from the loss of a friend, just like humans...we are not alone in our grief and we should be evolving enough to understand this concept. Ms. King, lays animal grief at our doorstep and makes us wiser human beings for it.
And for all you ELEPHANT POACHERS, out here..ELEPHANTS grieve the longest and take death the hardest!! So, stop poaaching elephants..
OR
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Animals and the Nature of Mourning
Do animals show emotion? Anyone who has had dogs, cats, and other house pets as companions would certainly answer in the affirmative. We have all observed and felt the joy, the anger, and the anticipation that our furry friends exhibit throughout the day. But what about deeper emotions? Are some emotions the exclusive domain of human beings and nothing else? One specific emotion that is debated is that of grief and in this book, How Animals Grieve, author Barbara King attempts to set the record straight about animals and the way they respond to the passing of a friend or family member.The book is loaded with stories of animal grief, some of them told by ordinary people who observed animals and followed their plight after learning that a fellow animal friend perished. Others are more research- oriented and are told by those working in a scientific capacity. I like that the book includes both because, while it is certainly a good idea to include stories of official scientific analysis and study for credibility’s sake, it is also good to hear stories told by everyday people who have observed animals in the act of grieving and are ready to share their experiences.Another thing I like about the book is that it doesn’t jump to conclusions. It doesn’t take the extreme position that every sign of distress or any change in behavior following the death of an animal’s loved one is a sure sign of animal grief. Instead, the book fully admits that, as much as we would like to think of our animal cousins as being just like us humans, more research is needed before we can draw these or other absolute conclusions.There is no doubt that certain species of animals are more self- aware and thus more capable of displaying grief and other complex emotions. Elephants, dolphins, dogs, cats, and several others rank more highly on the emotion- capable list than others and this book presents several convincing stories about these animals and their rituals, reactions, and often fascinating behavior when confronted with death. And it isn’t always grief between animals of the same species. One particularly interesting story told in this book took place between an elephant and a far smaller canine companion. This, and other anecdotes, keep this book personal, comforting, and readable.Whether animals are capable of complex emotions isn’t something that is settled in the halls of science. But there is ample evidence that animals do feel emotions at higher levels, including that of grief. How Animals Grieve is a good book for learning more about this often-fascinating branch of biology and at the very least, it will have you thinking in a more open- minded way the next time you see a living, walking creature in a state of distress.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2013
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Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2020
Do animals show emotion? Anyone who has had dogs, cats, and other house pets as companions would certainly answer in the affirmative. We have all observed and felt the joy, the anger, and the anticipation that our furry friends exhibit throughout the day. But what about deeper emotions? Are some emotions the exclusive domain of human beings and nothing else? One specific emotion that is debated is that of grief and in this book, How Animals Grieve, author Barbara King attempts to set the record straight about animals and the way they respond to the passing of a friend or family member.
The book is loaded with stories of animal grief, some of them told by ordinary people who observed animals and followed their plight after learning that a fellow animal friend perished. Others are more research- oriented and are told by those working in a scientific capacity. I like that the book includes both because, while it is certainly a good idea to include stories of official scientific analysis and study for credibility’s sake, it is also good to hear stories told by everyday people who have observed animals in the act of grieving and are ready to share their experiences.
Another thing I like about the book is that it doesn’t jump to conclusions. It doesn’t take the extreme position that every sign of distress or any change in behavior following the death of an animal’s loved one is a sure sign of animal grief. Instead, the book fully admits that, as much as we would like to think of our animal cousins as being just like us humans, more research is needed before we can draw these or other absolute conclusions.
There is no doubt that certain species of animals are more self- aware and thus more capable of displaying grief and other complex emotions. Elephants, dolphins, dogs, cats, and several others rank more highly on the emotion- capable list than others and this book presents several convincing stories about these animals and their rituals, reactions, and often fascinating behavior when confronted with death. And it isn’t always grief between animals of the same species. One particularly interesting story told in this book took place between an elephant and a far smaller canine companion. This, and other anecdotes, keep this book personal, comforting, and readable.
Whether animals are capable of complex emotions isn’t something that is settled in the halls of science. But there is ample evidence that animals do feel emotions at higher levels, including that of grief. How Animals Grieve is a good book for learning more about this often-fascinating branch of biology and at the very least, it will have you thinking in a more open- minded way the next time you see a living, walking creature in a state of distress.
The book is loaded with stories of animal grief, some of them told by ordinary people who observed animals and followed their plight after learning that a fellow animal friend perished. Others are more research- oriented and are told by those working in a scientific capacity. I like that the book includes both because, while it is certainly a good idea to include stories of official scientific analysis and study for credibility’s sake, it is also good to hear stories told by everyday people who have observed animals in the act of grieving and are ready to share their experiences.
Another thing I like about the book is that it doesn’t jump to conclusions. It doesn’t take the extreme position that every sign of distress or any change in behavior following the death of an animal’s loved one is a sure sign of animal grief. Instead, the book fully admits that, as much as we would like to think of our animal cousins as being just like us humans, more research is needed before we can draw these or other absolute conclusions.
There is no doubt that certain species of animals are more self- aware and thus more capable of displaying grief and other complex emotions. Elephants, dolphins, dogs, cats, and several others rank more highly on the emotion- capable list than others and this book presents several convincing stories about these animals and their rituals, reactions, and often fascinating behavior when confronted with death. And it isn’t always grief between animals of the same species. One particularly interesting story told in this book took place between an elephant and a far smaller canine companion. This, and other anecdotes, keep this book personal, comforting, and readable.
Whether animals are capable of complex emotions isn’t something that is settled in the halls of science. But there is ample evidence that animals do feel emotions at higher levels, including that of grief. How Animals Grieve is a good book for learning more about this often-fascinating branch of biology and at the very least, it will have you thinking in a more open- minded way the next time you see a living, walking creature in a state of distress.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2015
