Are we all the same?

Most of us know what it’s like to lose a loved one, or someone that we really care about. We get upset, angry, confused, frustrated, we feel unbearable sadness, we lose our appetite, lose interest in things we normally find interesting … some of us even go into deep depression. We feel so much grief. These strong, mixed feelings are associated with the process of mourning.

Do animals mourn too?

“An American research (1996) showed that 46% of cats eat less after they have lost a cat mate. In extreme cases it has even led to death. 70% of the cats started to miaow more or on the contrary less. It also turned out that the remaining cats often searched other sleeping places much more. More than half of the remaining cats became more affectionate towards their boss. You can conclude from the research results that 65% of the cats show 4 or more behavior changes after having lost a cat mate in his direct surroundings.

A cat reacts pretty much the same as a human being when he loses a cat mate. The remaining cat might change his eating pattern due to amongst others sickness. The cat might suddenly lose a lot of hairs which often occurs due to excessive washing. Some cats suddenly show untrained behavior. They also might stare out of the window during a couple of days hoping the other cat will come back. This waiting in front of the window is called “separation fear”.”
(Extracted from: http://www.catplaza.org.uk/the_cats_mourning_process)

Like cats, dogs show signs like: loss of appetite, less barking, loss of interest in playing or going for walks, lethargy, disorientation and confusion.

Dogs are capable of forming very strong friendships. The bond between a dog and their human and/or animal friend can be very strong, that if one of them was to suddenly pass away… the dog will feel everything that a human would: sadness and confusion… even depression.

Take a look at the 2 videos below. It is so sad and so heartwarming at the same time. The 2nd video is in Chinese, but one of my students has translated it into English also.

As you watch, remember: animals have feelings just like us. Never eat them. Never hurt them.

Tsem Rinpoche

http://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/Cat-loses-his-love-and-tries-to-save-her.flv

Or view the video on the server at: http://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/Cat-loses-his-love-and-tries-to-save-her.flv

http://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/dogMournsFriend.flv

Or view the video on the server at: http://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/dogMournsFriend.

Here is a brief summary of what occurs in the 2nd (chinese) video:

Time: Around 7.30am
Location: Chengdu Ring Road 2.5

In the middle of the road, one dog is already dead yet the other is still watching out for her loyally, by her side. In the passing traffic, he’s trying his best to move his mate’s body that perhaps still has some body warmth left, nearer to the side of the road.

Curled up, the surviving dog watches the cars passing by. Why does he risk his life protecting his mate’s body? Perhaps he is trying to awaken the energetic life that was still playing with him a few minutes ago.

The way animals express their love and their attachment are different from humans - more direct. The surviving dog hugged and licked his mate’s body. At that time her body was still soft… perhaps he thought he could save her…

I gave him some sausages, he bit off half of it and tried to push it in her mouth… I gave him something to drink, he hurriedly kept a mouthful to feed his mate…

There was no response from his mate, and he lay down disheartened, putting his neck next to his mate’s … There was much sorrow in his eyes… In this age of rapid development, how many animals became victims on public roa? How many animals became the sacrificial objects for modern civilization?

When someone captured a shot of a man who carried his wife on his back in the earthquake, he was highly regarded as unswervingly loyal… Yet a small dog in the howling car traffic, using his own weak body to protect his lover, what kind of sentiment does he have? There is no lowly nor noble affection, there is no high or low level. Although we do not understand them… or we feel it’s beneath us to understand them …  we have the same feelings.

At a farmer’s home,  under the shade of a tree in the backyard, we dug a metre of sacred space. He kept watch nearby, watching us bury his mate…