Why do we tend to sympathize with animals more than humans?

Question

I was at the Calgary stampede chuckwagon races this past weekend when one of the drivers colided with another team which resulted in the death of 3 of his horses. I feel absolutely sick about the poor horses even though the driver is in stable but critical condition in hospital. Why is it that people tend to symathize with animals more than human beings?

Here's the link to the story which shows the accident:

http://www.canada.com/globaltv/calgary/index.html

Answer 1

Because animals are defenseless, we have taken the majority of them and domesticated them or endangered them. They used to rule the earth, man is the only enemy that they can not defeat. They are our responsibility, and are innocent, we have them to serve our needs, not the other way around.

Answer 2

OMG..yes the ppl had a choice and the horses did not. Those were senseless deaths and so sad :( Animals give us unconditional love..i have 4 dogs at home. All 4 will sit in the window and watch for us to come home. I have one hes a big cry baby but thinks hes the head honcho of the house, lol he screams like a girl when we leave. And the welcome home dancing is some thing to look forward to when u get home..gotta love our animals. :)

Answer 3

we sympathize with animals more because they cant respond to our comments and actions like humans do. its the close to an inanimate object cept its alive. for example, if your talking to your animal and you have been doing this for a long time.. the animal doesnt tell you to shut up. if you talk to another person. after so long, that person would probably yell "STFU I DONT GIVE A F." another reason is that theyre all innocent. even if a tiger kills a human, it wont be considered murder. when a person does it, its way different. basically animals are pure and humans are corrupt.

Answer 4

Because animals make so few demands on anyone; just food, water, occasional additional care such as bath or in illness. People are mean to animals when animals can't defend themselves, same as some humans are to other humans. The animals seem to be more innocent.

Answer 5

The driver had a CHOICE about being there, the horses did not. I feel sick about the poor horses dying, too, since they were innocent victims and, face it, it was a human's error, not their error, that cost them their lives.

Humans screw up, animals pay the price. It sucks.

I always sympathize with animals. They're at our mercy and most humans aren't that merciful or just.

Answer 6

I think its because the animals are so innocent. THey don't know what could happen to them, what dangers they face. SUch as in movies for me, in the old westerns, when they are riding on horses shooting at each other, it makes me sad when the horse dies. ANd for me, i think its because the horses don't know wats going on, so it is unfair killing, where as the cowboys do.

Answer 7

because animals don't know whats going on and have no defense it seems. you feel worse when you see a man with no legs on the floor get shot as he tries to get away then a man who fights a man and loses in the end. the man with no legs represents the defensless animal.

Answer 8

Because animals can't talk back. We are the highest form of animal. We feel more superior than them.

Answer 9

I think it's the unconditional love they usually provide us. Animals are pure of heart and I think we connect with that.

Answer 10

because those who have animals as partners think their animals are family. they have been far away from humans so they forgot what they were only humans not animals.