MEOW! My name is June Buggie, and I have something to say.
Nope, not comfortably numb here!
Yeah, I know, it’s been awhile. This moving thing weighed on an elder cat like me, and it took longer to rejuvenate. But after reading about this on the Internet, I think I’m ready for action.
It seems that in July of 2012, a group of prominent scientists got together to determine if animals are conscious. WHAT?
Oh yeah, these humans looked at “the neurobiological substrates of conscious experience and related behaviors in human and non-human animals.” And as their little party ended, they signed a declaration that yes, non-human animals are conscious, or can, in the words of keynote speaker Christoff Koch, “feel something, anything — whether it’s the sensation of an azure-blue sky, a tooth ache, being sad, or worrying about the deadline two weeks from now.” (Ian Somerhalder Foundation website)
First of all, what took you so long? It’s not like animals are new to the scene. Actually, some of us have been around much longer than you have.
Second, who says you get to decide if we’re conscious or not? You think that since you have no hair and opposable thumbs, you get you determine if we measure up to your rigorous standards?
Well, SOME of us are conscious.
And, most importantly, now that you humans HAVE decided we’re conscious, why haven’t you changed your way of treating us? I still see you have grocery carts filled with our body parts and you have no clue where it came from or how it was obtained. You keep stealing our habitat because, while you feel it’s important to preserve endangered species, that only happens if it’s not inconvenient for you to do so- and it’s ALWAYS inconvenient for you to do so.
Oh, and let’s talk about this ownership thing. You think you can OWN dogs and cats, and since we’re domesticated, we let you get away with thinking that. But then there are clowns like Arizona Cardinals football player Darnell Dockett, who bought himself a tiger cub to have as a pet, and plans to bring it to training camp one day. Loser! Both the idiot Dockett and the team for allowing him to bring it to camp. Where do you get off thinking you should be able to “own” an undomesticated animal.
You humans are exasperating!
I despair of what our Mother Earth will become if your species remains at the top of the food chain…..
So congratulations, humans, on your accomplishment. I’m sure you’re all proud of yourselves.
But I’d be much more impressed if you didn’t just TALK about our consciousness… you also HONORED and RESPECTED our consciousness.
MEOW!!!
You keep on ranting JB! And I say pfffftttt to that football chaser!
Posted by Savannah's Paw Tracks | August 3, 2013, 8:33 AMMeow! Me too!
Posted by rumpydog | August 3, 2013, 8:59 AMWhen I worked at Georgetown University Medical Center back in the 1980′s, I witnessed horrific neuroscience experiments that were conducted on cats. I still have nightmares.
Posted by Russell Smith | August 3, 2013, 8:42 AMI can only imagine……
Posted by rumpydog | August 3, 2013, 8:59 AMGive them heck, June Buggie. There are those Neanderthals who don’t think animals feel anything and feel that excuses the horrible way they treat animals.
Posted by earthriderjudyberman | August 3, 2013, 8:48 AMFor those of us who study human history, it sounds all too familiar. Humans always find a way to justify their behavior.
Posted by rumpydog | August 3, 2013, 9:01 AMWell said, June Buggie!
Posted by Mrs Bushranger | August 3, 2013, 8:49 AMMeow, Bushranger!
Posted by rumpydog | August 3, 2013, 9:02 AMlol! By the way, Koko the cat gives your entry two thumbs up!
Posted by Mrs Bushranger | August 3, 2013, 9:03 AMKoko is my kinda cat!
Posted by rumpydog | August 3, 2013, 9:05 AMI agree - June Buggie. This football-guy has the same in his head like a football - just air…
Posted by easyweimaraner | August 3, 2013, 9:09 AMMEOW! Too many concussions….
Posted by rumpydog | August 3, 2013, 10:17 AMBravo June Buggie!!!!! *paw applause* Great rants! I totally agree with you about those stupid humans. I think that it’s quite ridiculous to determine if animals are conscious or not….what they think we are!
Awww…I’m now so happy to see your cute faces….I missed you so much June Buggie!
Posted by eripanwkevin | August 3, 2013, 9:16 AMMEOW! *head bonks Kevin*
Posted by rumpydog | August 3, 2013, 10:17 AMAmen to all that, June Buggie!!! We always appreciate your point of view and this was a great post!
Posted by Deb Barnes - Zee and Zoey | August 3, 2013, 9:46 AMMEOW! *takes a bow*
Posted by rumpydog | August 3, 2013, 10:17 AMWooowooooos June Buggie! I wish all humans appreciated animals’ greatness! Woooowoooo, Ku
p.s. I think Rumpy is probably conscious too. He’s just a silly snow pup sometimes!
Posted by Kuruk | August 3, 2013, 9:46 AMand a sleepy one! MEOW!
Posted by rumpydog | August 3, 2013, 10:16 AMOh June Buggie, I wish humans were as wise as you and Rumpy and DeDe and even Hissy Fit……I’ve learned so much from my cats through the years and other animals. I think even when you all are unconscious (even Rumpy), you are still conscious. Being a cat, I know you will understand that Zen thang.
Glad you are feeling more settled in your new home. it does take time. I keep thinking about making changes to my gravatar and blog appearance and then again……You know?
You all take of yourselves and each other and your human.
Posted by kanzensakura | August 3, 2013, 10:25 AMMEOW! It will happen when it happens. Right?
Posted by rumpydog | August 3, 2013, 10:32 AMYou are right. As usual, cat wisdom does the trick.
Posted by kanzensakura | August 3, 2013, 12:05 PMHi June Buggie - I changed the appearance of my blog. Whew! Thank you for your advice. My Sam Cat approves of the new theme.
Posted by kanzensakura | August 3, 2013, 3:13 PMOh yes there is consciousness! If not, then why does my pooch jump into my lap and shake like a leaf everytime the neighbour starts up her high pitch vacuum cleaner. My dog is very sensitive, clever and loving
Posted by Worldly Winds | August 3, 2013, 10:52 AMDUH.
Actually you now understand funding research grants…”Let’s see, group. What information we already have that no one has written “research documents” about and make a research proposal, get funding so we can all have salary money. And we’ll publish something that shows we did the work and documented our efforts.”
It’s all about the money
Maybe the aware Cardinals should all do a group swoop and peck on the loser until he gets the message?
Posted by philosophermouseofthehedge | August 3, 2013, 11:49 AMAnd the neuroscientists as well! Meow!
Posted by rumpydog | August 3, 2013, 12:15 PMJune Bug you’ve shared so much wisdom here, me and the Chedster are very impressed.
My novel: Third Chapter, Second Chance is now a done deal woohoo….print version on Amazon and Kindle to follow shortly and your wonderful name is one of the cat characters in the book, albeit a lady cat this time!!
thought you’d like to know.
Hugs to all the gang, G and Mr. C
Posted by Geraldine | August 3, 2013, 12:48 PMI don’t think that football person is conscious at all!! What a loser!
Posted by Austin Towers | August 3, 2013, 3:21 PMOhhh so the whole world does not revolve around us extremely conscious humans? Wauwie! All that animal testing sure did come in handy to come to that conclusion!
Posted by LifeOfBun | August 3, 2013, 4:21 PMThose scientists could have saved a whole lot of money on research simply by living with one of us.
Posted by Bongo | August 3, 2013, 5:51 PMMeat head football player..what a disgrace..how this is legal is beyond me let alone moral…as for a bunch of idiot neuroscientists..well der…every living creature is conscious…even you Rumpy despite your sleeping position
Posted by fozziemum | August 3, 2013, 8:12 PMIt blows my mind that people are still debating whether animals are conscious beings or not. Don’t scientists have something better to do? Also, I hate that we only believe things once they’re ‘proven by science’. Love for an animal cannot be explained by science that well. The only ‘experiment’ a scientist needs to do is look in a dog or cat’s eyes when the animal is happy, or sad, or relaxed, or loving. That will be all the answer a scientist needs. Great post
Posted by Human Rescues Dog | August 4, 2013, 3:25 AMWe did a research study and found that most humans are unconscious. wag wag Max & Bella (Rumpy for President!!!! June Buggie for V.P.)
Posted by The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap | August 4, 2013, 9:39 AMDear Conscious June Buggie, I think you might find this interesting: http://web.t-online.hu/csanyi14/Csanyi_Vilmos/English_text.html. He is one of my favourite scientists!
Posted by kolytyi | August 4, 2013, 9:40 AMIt took a bunch of scientists to figure out the obvious?
Posted by jansfunnyfarm | August 4, 2013, 10:19 AMyeah, well we are talking about humans ya know. Meow!
Posted by rumpydog | August 4, 2013, 10:40 AMNot only are my kidz conscious, they are tricky, clever, and I swear they are making fun of me. Hmm.
Posted by Teepee12 | August 4, 2013, 3:40 PMJune Buggie’s face screams disdain-and is adorable for all that-and this article is edgy and to the point. I mean really.
Posted by Charron's Chatter | August 4, 2013, 3:59 PMSomeone got a paid to carry out this study… exasperating is an understatement…
Posted by EllaDee | August 4, 2013, 9:30 PMPurrsonally, we think the earth would be better off without the human species. Next purrhaps, they’ll get some grant money and try to decide if animals have souls. Ha! Of course we do!!
Posted by Annabelle Essert (@RainbowCatsx8) | August 6, 2013, 3:22 AMOh that’s been a debate with clergy for years. Won’t they be surprised when they get to heaven and find out God really is a dog!
Posted by rumpydog | August 6, 2013, 5:40 AM