We see people rescuing animals from icy lakes, or pulling them out of deep mud, or cutting them out of entanglements. Veterinarians put in IVs, give them shots, or operate on them. Over their fear, do they have any understanding that they are being helped.
2007-02-15 09:54:25 · 14 answers · asked by judyarb1945 5 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Yes, they certainly do. But, like humans, they may be too terrified to react to the rescuer. It is often necessary to muzzle them because they may bite while in a panic.
My rescue dogs understand when I am cleaning a wound for them, and keep perfectly still, even though it must pain them considerably. They know that I am helping them.
There was a report recently of a whale that had been trapped in a fishing net. When the rescuers finally were able to free her, she swam up to each one of them and gently touched them while she looked at them, before she headed for deeper water.
And rescue dogs form a particularly strong bond with their rescuers. They know quite well who has saved them and are devoted companions.
2007-02-15 10:05:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
animals are definatly not stupid,but i think it all depends on the animal,and it's depth of understanding some are smarter than others,i rescued a very wild very crazy Arab stallion once,he had been kept in a small dark stall and was hardly touched at all,his feed was thrown in to him and a hose was slipped in a crack to fill his water bucket,when he was taken out it was for breeding only,and he was horribly whipped,when he came here he was covered with open sores and would literally climb the walls if i got near him,in order to treat his wounds i would have to reach over the stall and spray his wounds the best i could with an aerosol antibiotic from about 6 feet away,after the 3rd day of treatment i walked over to the stall expecting him to do the usual,only to find him standing quietly waiting for me to spray his wounds,he did this for me every day until he was healed but i still couldn't touch him other than to spray the wounds,i am positive he understood that he needed those wounds treated,the medicine made him feel better and he wanted it done
2007-02-15 18:16:32 · answer #2 · answered by onyxpryzm 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, you kind of asked a HUGE question. It really depends on what side of the cognitive thought debate you stand on. Do animals think like we do? Do they think in sentences, ordered logical, rational, questioning thought? Do they have emotions? Do they understand language (barks, chirps, or roars) think about what they heard, and answer? Do they have emotions?
If you say no, then no, animals don't have a clue. adreniline is rushing through their little veins and all they want to do is fight you to get away.
If you say yes, they do understand thought, then you run the risk of trusting an animal that is hurt. The animal may be thinking "please, Yabbit, Lord of the Rabbits, send me a kind savior to release me" or he could be thinking "large animal with two eyes in front is going to eat me...fight for your life!"
Me, I'm in the middle. I beleive animals have the ability to think through obstacles in order to get food, entertainment, or survive. I do not think they daydream, feel emotions as we do, or think abstractly.
When it comes right down to it, you never trust an animal. You will never know how they will react in a situation becuase you don't know how they think. A hurt animal is always best left to those who are trained to help them. Always be on guard. And never assume that they know you just want to help. They more than likely think that you see them as an easy meal.
2007-02-15 18:19:42 · answer #3 · answered by lemonnpuff 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO, cause i can imagine if I were them I would have no idea of the humans intention, even if i still had my brain but were in their smaller body, I would have 0 idea what the person is trying to do. If a person who didn't speak any of your language grabbed you out of a place and then did took you to unrecognizable places and did things to you that you never seen before, are you going to know whats going on?
2007-02-15 19:03:22 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends. Most of the time, NO, they have no idea if you are helping or part of the problem. If they know you, they may try to get to you just because they trust you and know you, but most likely they will just see the people helping as something ELSE to worry about....or they may blame whoever they see for causing or contributing to the problem.
You just have to help them and be aware that they probably will see you to be as much of a threat as whatever else you are trying to save them from.
2007-02-15 18:07:45 · answer #5 · answered by tallcowboy0614 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on the Animal. Dogs usually sense your intentions. Other animals such as horses and cows, become hysterical when in pain and are oblivious to a helping hand.
2007-02-15 18:06:42 · answer #6 · answered by BlondeQT 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Maybe some do, must I'm sure most don't understand. That's why rescuers have such a hard time helping them sometimes. They do not have human understanding, obviously.
2007-02-15 18:16:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not always. They are usually too scared to notice the gentle hands and soothing voices.
2007-02-15 17:57:41 · answer #8 · answered by michakitty87 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I doubt it...that's why working with them is so hazardous-they bite and attack without warning simply out of their tremendous fear they have of us and the situation they are in.
2007-02-15 20:58:39 · answer #9 · answered by dressage.rider 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was a vet tech for 5 years..........and yes they know when they are being helped, whether they are sick or injured.
2007-02-15 19:26:44 · answer #10 · answered by Cassie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋