Two of the common ideas on why humans are different than other creatures is opposing thumbs and free will. The thumbs may be the reason other creatures haven’t invented assembly lines and ways of killing themselves as humans have. The mistake of our arrogance is thinking we are the only creatures with free will.

            I have been around dogs all my life but my last eight (6 Alaskan Malamutes and 2 Shetland Sheep Dogs) have taught me they have free will, too. They decided if they want to obey what I told them to do. They could tell if they were doing right or wrong by my standards. My first Malamute got revenge on me once by chewing up the last twenty pages of a paperback book I had been reading and ignoring her. She hid in our little house because she knew she had done wrong.

            Malamutes are pack animals so they are genetically disposed to decide who the leader is and where their place in the pack is. Once in a while I had to express my dominance by wrapping my arms and legs around them until they stopped struggling which indicated their submission.

            My first Malamute was attacked by two German Shepherds at once and without ever being around a German Shepherd again, communicated that fear to two others who would attack when they saw one. They only had a problem with German Shepherds. That’s communication and free will!

            Birds, bees, ants, horses, and elephants decided they feel they should be with others for the common good and/or friendship. That need for friendship often makes for very strange friendships because of free will to not eat their friends.             Free will is not unique to humans as religious and hunters would like others to think.