Recent studies reveal what some people may have already known, at least about dogs and dolphins. Mice and chickens also show empathy, and pigs are in many ways very intelligent. http://animal.discovery.com/tv/a-list/creature-countdowns/smartest/smartest-06.html How does knowledge about conscious and empathetic behavior among once under-rated animals affect you? What do you think should we do differently as a result of this knowledge?