Showing kindness and empathy for animals

Researchers have found that individuals between 20 and 29 years old were better at identifying emotions in animals. Photo: AFP

Taking in a pet and looking after them is no easy task – not only do you have to make sure that the animal is healthy, you also have to keep them happy.

Scientists in Denmark and Switzerland say that empathy is a valuable quality for pet owners because it helps them better understand their furry friend. To reach this conclusion, a team of researchers from the University of Copenhagen and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich played the sounds of six different mammals to 1,024 people from 48 countries.