Recent research is showing animals are much more intelligent then previously assumed. Parrots reason like three year old children[1], mice feel empathy and grim

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. [1] http://m.livescience.com/22178-parrots-reason-three-year-olds.html http://m.livescience.com/22178-parrots-reason-three-year-old... [2] http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/researchers-say-mice-feel-empathy-with-peers/ http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/researchers-say-mice-feel... [3] http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-07/squint-if-it-hurts http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-07/squint-if-it-h... [4] http://www.tor.com/blogs/2013/06/when-doves-cry-scientific-american-explores-grief-in-animals http://www.tor.com/blogs/2013/06/when-doves-cry-scientific-a... [5] http://news.discovery.com/animals/birds-hold-avian-funerals-for-their-dead-120905.htm http://news.discovery.com/animals/birds-hold-avian-funerals-...