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Pet-sense Do pets dream? And if so, what do they dream about? by Jean Hofve, DVM There's been little scientific study on this subject, but researchers have documented the equivalent of REM (rapid-eye movement) in not only dogs and cats but other mammals, as well as birds. This is the dreaming stage of sleep in humans, and it's probably fair to say that it's the same in animals. Certainly we see similar patterns of physical movement: running motions, twitching of paws, whiskers, or tails, and even vocalization. The questions, though, go to a deeper level: do animals have imagination? Many humans would prefer to deny that animals have any such abilities. After all, if humans believed animals could imagine things—such as freedom (and other natural behaviours), in the case of animals destined to produce or become human food—that would put a whole lot of responsibility on us! It's easier to cling to Descartes' view that animals are witless beings ruled solely by instinct. "I think, therefore I am," Descartes claimed, thus elevating mankind to a unique position. Animals, in the Cartesian mindset, are not only non-human, but sub-human. Yet, it's obvious that animals can learn, which requires some degree of imagination, at least in the form of memory. A leopard that couldn't remember how he managed to find his previous meals wouldn't fare too well in the wild! Recently, I watched a YouTube video ("Christian the Lion") showing two friends, who had raised and released a lion cub, visiting the now-adult lion in the wild a year later. They were told by experts that the lion absolutely would not recognize them. Of course, the lion did recognize them, and gave them an unmistakably joyful greeting. Many of us have experienced the same thing—we go on vacation and our gerbil still knows us when we come home, or our former neighbour's dog greets us affectionately when we visit years later. And it's not just mammals or "higher" animals, either. In vet school, a large boa constrictor that I had cared for one summer clearly recognized me six months later. (Though it was a bit unnerving to have a 9-foot-long snake launch herself toward my face, tongue flitting madly, to say "hi"!) Obviously, animals can think, remember, imagine, and even work out solutions to a wide variety of situations. It seems reasonable that what animals think about, they can dream about. We do. In fact, science tells us that dreaming is essential to integrating new knowledge. But humans also dream about things that never happened, as well as things we would never even imagine, or want to imagine! What about animals? In Conversations with Cat, author and animal communicator Kate Solisti asked cats, "You seem to be thinking all the time. Do you think in thoughts or pictures?" Cats replied, "Both, and more… We think with our entire being… We perceive visual, auditory, and kinesthetic stimuli both in the physical and non-physical realms…" In another book, Conversations with Dog, Solisti asked dogs, "What do you dream about?" "Lots of things," they responded, "Fun, physical activities… the beautiful things we've experienced in our lives with you… that we are young and full of life…" Dogs say they also sit at "the feet of God" in their dreams to ask for help or guidance. Dogs and cats also have "ancestral" dreams in which they re-live scenes from pre-domestication, in which they are wild and free-living. In my own meditation I asked about this and became immersed in a vivid vision where, as a wild wolf, I was following the pack leader as we raced through the forest in pursuit of prey. For dogs, that may be equivalent to our human dreams of flying… it was a wonderful experience! As time goes by, more and more of the "barriers" between human abilities and those of animals are being shattered. We're discovering that animals are not so different from us! Let's remember, then, to always treat them with love, honour and respect! Dr. Jean Hofve recently retired from holistic veterinary practice, but still writes and consults on holistic health and nutrition. She is a Medicine Woman of the Mountain Wind Lodge Nemenhah Band and Native American Traditional Organization (Oklevueha Native American Church of Sanpete). She founded SpiritEssence in 1995, which remains the only line of essence formulas for animals created by a veterinarian. For more information on pet health, nutrition, and behaviour, please visit the free article library at www.littlebigcat.com.

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