I don't know if any of you saw this viral video which does the rounds on social media every now and again - it's of a dog pushing water onto a dead fish with its nose, clearly a burying instinct and nothing more. Only the caption goes something like "dog tries to save dying fish by throwing water on it" or something, and hundreds of comments ensue in which people declare that dogs are obviously more compassionate than humans and that they are clearly a lot more intelligent than we give them credit for if they understand that fish need water. 
 
I just had a Facebook friend post this damn video again (she posts all of this kind of crap along with soppy motivational slogans etc) and reading through the comments has again depressed me. I cannot believe that so many people are so utterly utterly dumb as to believe that this dog is showing compassion for a dead fish. I mean you don't expect the majority to be geniuses or even what we would call "intellectual," but you like to think that basic common sense prevails. Reading these comments it's painfully clear that even this isn't the case. Anyone who points out that the dog is trying to bury a piece of food is a "hater" who obviously "doesn't understand just how compassionate and intelligent dogs are." Even when one of these idiots has been schooled to the point where they accept that the dog isn't a fish doctor, they say things like "who cares if it's trying to bury it, can you not just be inspired by the idea that it loves all living things." 
 
Don't get me wrong I love dogs to bits and have worked with them for years, but I've also seen them try to bury toys by pushing freaking AIR over them with their noses. How people can be this unperceptive and irrational is beyond me, I give up. 

Just saw Idiocracy Friday.  We're headed there pretty fast!

It's funny how animal bury things. They bury stuff because the don't want it but they also bury stuff they perceive to have value. Dogs love to bury stuff and dig it up at a later date. Squirrels spend half their time burying nuts and flower bulbs, and the other half digging up gardens looking for it.
 
We have banks.

That dog is actually a very talented chef, he was basting the fish. What the video doesn't show is him pan-frying it with lemongrass and samphire and serving it on a bed of couscous.

sharke
I don't know if any of you saw this viral video which does the rounds on social media every now and again - it's of a dog pushing water onto a dead fish with its nose, clearly a burying instinct and nothing more. Only the caption goes something like "dog tries to save dying fish by throwing water on it" or something, and hundreds of comments ensue in which people declare that dogs are obviously more compassionate than humans and that they are clearly a lot more intelligent than we give them credit for if they understand that fish need water. 
 
I just had a Facebook friend post this damn video again (she posts all of this kind of crap along with soppy motivational slogans etc) and reading through the comments has again depressed me. I cannot believe that so many people are so utterly utterly dumb as to believe that this dog is showing compassion for a dead fish. I mean you don't expect the majority to be geniuses or even what we would call "intellectual," but you like to think that basic common sense prevails. Reading these comments it's painfully clear that even this isn't the case. Anyone who points out that the dog is trying to bury a piece of food is a "hater" who obviously "doesn't understand just how compassionate and intelligent dogs are." Even when one of these idiots has been schooled to the point where they accept that the dog isn't a fish doctor, they say things like "who cares if it's trying to bury it, can you not just be inspired by the idea that it loves all living things." 
 
Don't get me wrong I love dogs to bits and have worked with them for years, but I've also seen them try to bury toys by pushing freaking AIR over them with their noses. How people can be this unperceptive and irrational is beyond me, I give up. 

Sadly, it's these same kind of people wanted to issue death threats and other malicious acts on that dentist/hunter who killed a lion for sport in Africa. Yes, he used bad judgment in trusting the wrong people and possibly made some other bad decisions during this hunting trip, but the reaction from the public was very clear that most people valued the animal's rights/life rather than his fellow humans.
 
Obviously, punishment must fit the crime, but the hatred and anger towards this man/family/business to the point of wanting him dead?? Really??    
 
This is even beyond common sense.....  
 

Any animal has more value than a politician. 

craigb
Any animal has more value than a politician. 

Well, that's definitely a lower kind of animal and the comment certainly justifies the situation.

Well, the world is running out of Lions and has no shortage of people. I would argue that the Lion was more valuable in this case.

Mesh
 
Sadly, it's these same kind of people wanted to issue death threats and other malicious acts on that dentist/hunter who killed a lion for sport in Africa. Yes, he used bad judgment in trusting the wrong people and possibly made some other bad decisions during this hunting trip, but the reaction from the public was very clear that most people valued the animal's rights/life rather than his fellow humans.
 
Obviously, punishment must fit the crime, but the hatred and anger towards this man/family/business to the point of wanting him dead?? Really??    
 
This is even beyond common sense.....  
 

Maybe, maybe not. Lions don't generally carry high velocity rifles.
 
I have no sympathy for the dentist, you reap what you sow. Shooting and killing that animal, and thereby leaving it's cubs to their fate (probably killed by the next dominant male) is indefensible in my book.

ampfixer
Well, the world is running out of Lions and has no shortage of people. I would argue that the Lion was more valuable in this case.

Considering the lack of common sense in todays people, the lion might very well be the more valuable creature worth preserving.