Recent research is showing animals are much more intelligent then previously assumed. Parrots reason like three year old children[1], mice feel empathy and grimace in agony[2,3], elephants grieve[4] and birds hold funerals for their dead[5].
When we harm or show an incorrect appreciation for other sentient beings, it shows not only disrespect and lack of understanding and compassion, but it diminishes human dignity.
When we harm or show an incorrect appreciation for other sentient beings, it shows not only disrespect and lack of understanding and compassion, but it diminishes human dignity.
[1] http://m.livescience.com/22178-parrots-reason-three-year-old...
[2] http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/researchers-say-mice-feel...
[3] http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-07/squint-if-it-h...
[4] http://www.tor.com/blogs/2013/06/when-doves-cry-scientific-a...
[5] http://news.discovery.com/animals/birds-hold-avian-funerals-...