More empathy for animals than humans????

Question

I don't know why I feel more empathy for animals than humans. I can watch Court TV's forensic and homicide shows all day long, often staring at dead bodies, and feel absolutely nothing. However if I watch anything in which an animal is abused or harmed in any way it brings me to the brink of tears.

I often rationalize from my religious standpoint that humans may get a second chance at life depending on what they do here one Earth but animals don't, once they die they are gone forever. But I often feel that this is not a good reason to empathize more with animals than humans…I just don’t understand why…
Do you find yourself feeling this way? If so why?

Answer 1

i think it's because with human on human violence, the one being attacked has a fighting chance.
whereas human on animal violence, the animal is usually helpless.
also, people realize that other people have feelings, while people who abuse animals usually don't realize the animal can feel and understand what they're doing to them.
also there is less justice for crimes against animals, there are millions of homicide departments for humans, yet there is only ONE in the U.S. for animals.

Answer 2

I feel the same way too, but none of the reasons in the answers make any sense to me. I just don't care about people. But I can't even drive by the Humane Society because of the empathy I have for animals, especially dogs.

Answer 3

I have felt this way recently and understand your concern. Perhaps the answer is that we possess animals but cannot possess other humans. We can control animals but cannot control humans. We speak and feel for animals because they cannot speak and express feelings for themselves. Humans have reasons for the things they do so our reasons can be examined and scrutinized. Humans can be judged for their actions. Animals do not have reasons for the things they do. They act according to instinct. They cannot be judged for their actions. Animals are perfect as they are and do not often make mistakes or have accidents. But when they do they are often severe or fatal. And like the previous answer rightly points out, humans are natural caretakers for animal kind.

Answer 4

I often feel this way too. Sometimes I think it's because we are usually overloaded with images of humans suffering so we become desensitized to the thought of human suffering and death, but images of animals suffering are showed less. Other times I just think I like animals better than people...hahaha...just kidding!

Answer 5

I Feel the same way. animals are inocent they don't intentionally hurt any one as we do to them. Almost all animals want to live in peace with humans but they can't cause we are always hurting them, some of us that care, it hurts us. I would help every animal out there they deserve and need us. biblically it is our job as humans to take care of animals.
Humans Suck