TWO ✻ TEXT

[mercurio]

Prompto Argentum shared a photo. 03/14 near Hollingberry Field

you ever have something happen to you that you're like "nah that'll never happen to me" but then here you are, plus one dog and feeling the weight of parental responsibility on your shoulders? i'm too young for this. anyway this is ruffles at the dog park just now! retrospec's width limitations suck but, you can probably tell he's a really good dog. well, i guess, with his previous owner and all. so i pose this question to you: do you think animals can feel sad and do they miss people that are no longer here?

[are you talking about yourself or the dog, prompto?]

Comments

[puffing]

[ Bigby is gonna skip pretty much all of the psychoanalysis here and focus on what is most important― ]

Did YOU name the dog or was Ruffles a package deal when you got him?

[mercurio]

oh his official name is rufus
gladio didn't dig the nickname much either

[rhapsodeity]

he is soooooooooooooooo handsome!!!!!!!! look at those eyes wow!
i think that that is true though
animals are living things and no one is really born alone so it is our natural state to always seek each other out
and animals are the same
so yeah!

[mercurio]

oh man jade... even with working at the animal shelter forever i don't think i'm prepared to handle the dog blues
how do i know if he's sad?? do we have a manual about it

[openhanded]

Of course animals feel sad. Dogs have been our companions for thousands and thousands of years. We bring them into our homes, raise them, and give them love... They live for that, you know? All they want is to be loved. That's why it's so sad when someone abandons them. Cats, too, even though they have a bad reputation.

The best you can do is spend time with him until he warms up to you. If he starts showing signs of anxiety, you might want to talk to a pet trainer.

[mercurio]

oh but it wasn't abandonment on purpose! more like no-choice kinda thing...
yeah i think i'll do that
actually i'm heading out to find some of his toys and things at my friend's place

somebody stop her

[twelfthspark]

So I don't know if you did that on purpose but you're *kind* of making it sound like somebody died. 😱

Did they?

Re: somebody stop her

[mercurio]

nah they just moved out of the country

[standalonehuman]

I'd been wondering where Officer Amicia's dog went. I'm glad he ended up with a good owner. You'll do fine, I'm sure of it. Besides, he's a friendly pup.

Feel free to let me know next time you two are going to the park! Daisuke needs friends, too, and he should get some exercise without overexerting himself.

[mercurio]

yeah, he dropped ruffles off a few days ago before he left. i just hope i can make him proud.

[the dog? gladio???]

i'm planning dog dates for my dog now i guess this is my life
i wanna try taking him every day when i can, late afternoons
he's been coming with me for morning jogs

[strawberrypunch]

What happened?

[Are you ok bro because you kinda don't sound ok right now.]

[mercurio]

my business card should read prompto argentum and ruffles delivery service!
i need cards first actually
friend moved, left me his dog

[megabond]

He's very energetic, Prompto.

What happened to his owner?

[mercurio]

you bet he is!?! he tackled me to the ground shortly after that picture!

[momentaryspring]

I'd like to think that if I was gone, Checkers would be upset about it.

She probably would. She's a smart girl.

[mercurio]

pix of checkers now buddy

[gnasher]

what kind of question is that? all animals have feelings.

[lol uh]

[mercurio]

i'm trying to find reassurance with the crowd!!

[counteracts]

[dude literally what is going on in your life

anyways—]

have you ever seen a dog's face after you mention the park and then don't actually take it to the park?
I feel like that's more pure and genuine a heartbreak than anything a human can feel.

[He only mentions this because this happened to him, recently, and it had led him to spending a lot of time at the park (despite being thoroughly hungover). Dogs are powerful and emotional creatures, and they know how to use it to their advantage.]

[mercurio]

[dogs and more dogs]

here i thought i was imagining things. i'm glad i'm not projecting or anything
i'll do my best to keep ruffles a happy dog!

[esperimental]

Seeing as dogs in particular feel the same "happy chemical" reaction when they see their masters as their masters do when they see them, it is a given sadness would also be the case, in my opinion.

Did something happen?

[mercurio]

this is the most scientific reason i've received so far
makes sense though
his owner had to leave the country because of a family emergency and i can sometimes tell that ruffles is upset? i wanna do my best for him

[hjack69]

man have you ever eaten a dogs favorite food in front of it?
you can SEE the frickin heartbreak in their eyes
dunno if my cats would miss me much idk
i think they would?
but i also think theyd eat my body if i died and nobody found me/fed them for a few days

[mercurio]

lmao i hope you mean their fave food like a steak or something
isn't that the reason you keep cats in the first place?
i vote that you run an experiment if you end up dead in your home "dying wish: lemme see how my cats act after a few days then pick up my body or what's left of it. why? science"

[complementing]

I'm sorry your friend moved away... I'm sure Ruffles is sad, but I'm sure he also knows he's loved and he has you now, so he'll be okay if you ever want to set up a doggy play date, let me know. Koromaru is as high energy as Ruffles looks

handwaving that he knows koromaru by now..?!!

[mercurio]

okay before i get into any of this (thank you by the way)
i really want ruffles to meet koromaru

[notyourutopian]

Of course dogs can feel sad. They can feel most emotions.

You'll know this the first time you accidentally make Ruffles there angry at you, and he can't decide between barking at you and sulking at you to make his point.

[mercurio]

i don't think i can handle having that kind of power over him... i think i'll also be upset if that does happen

[me_matey]

hell yeah they can

u gotta show animals who lost their people 10x as much love

gotta let them know there is still good in this world and they are still special, nawmean?

[mercurio]

damn
i'm getting him all the toys in the store
he will be the most loved dog of all time!

[daemonized]

I have no doubt a dog can feel sadness, just as keenly as it can happiness.

Though he looks very content in the park. You’ve already a strong start to your burgeoning parenting skills.

[mercurio]

i'm trying my best! but he does look pretty happy right?
he was so tired when we got back he fell asleep immediately
gotta say it feels weird to have a dog follow me around the apartment

[though probably a good thing since he doesn't lock it for shit?]

[blooming_resonance]

Animal psychology is an interesting thing, but even if it makes me sound very clinical, luckily, all research I've seen points to 'yes'. Dogs can feel sad and miss people.

Luckily, it is very possible for animals to bond with someone new, as well and...

I think you'll do well. He's a very beautiful dog.

[mercurio]

it's a lucky thing that i've known him from before! so it wasn't that jarring to him i think
i'd be dead before throwing him in the shelter though..

[true_noir]

I think that they can feel emotion, yes, so I would imagine that they can feel sad at the loss. I see no reason why they wouldn't. Why?

An adorable dog, by the way.

[mercurio]

i just want to make sure i'm not projecting and then overcompensating to the point that i overwhelm ruffles
but i guess if it's possible for them to miss their previous owners than it's alright for me to be a little over the top

[trueend]

think so
dogs are really really smart
but are you going to be sad too
sounds like you miss people

[mercurio]

[don't put him on blast mr. frisk e business!!]

yeah? not only did his owner leave my friend did too and not for like the best of reasons?
so i think we'll be sad together for a bit
haha probably good company!

[frostythehitman]

I don't know much about dogs, but if they can learn to recognize people, I'd bet they can also miss people they've learned to recognize.

[mercurio]

man, that's deep
but probably extremely true
i'll have to keep an eye out on how ruffles behaves

[herdingspacecats]

I'd have to say yes, for sure. I still have play dates with Kimi's litter mates, and she's always so happy to see the family that fostered her.

In any case, I'd say you're doing well so far. Just taking Ruffles to the park regularly will make a big difference in your relationship with him.

[mercurio]

you're right, i gotta focus on what i can do now to help him feel at home
i don't think i can trace back his litter mates though...
what breed is kimi? just curious

i'msorrythisislate

[recusancy]

All you need to do is observe a dog for ten minutes, and you will see that they feel. They display their emotions quite clearly. It is one of their best qualities.

But something tells me you already knew that.

i'm so late to your log though

[mercurio]

yeah i got pretty clued in by everyone else uh sir
but yeah i just wanted to check since i've never had a pet before

[viktorymaker]

Isn't that Rufus? Gladio's dog

[mercurio]

it is! you knew him??