When humans finally wipe themselves out, they’ll probably do so much splash damage that they take down the entire planetary ecosystem, which means that the other animals – which had nothing to do with causing the disaster – will suffer, too.
The dogs will probably be the only ones that miss us.
Dogs are awesome.
Elsewhere, I saw video of a service dog scooting its body under its person’s head when they were having a seizure, to pad them so they wouldn’t hit the floor.
Canids are the best. Maybe I only feel that way because I haven’t met enough pigs, whales or rats. Felids are pretty awesome as well. That is all.
The entire planetary ecosystem? Strongly doubt that. Not really eager to find out what percentage of the ecosystem we will take with us if we don’t (collectively) smarten up, though…
cubist @2:
Rob Grigjanis@#1:
Felids are pretty cool, too; they make sure you know it. Horses can be great friends with wry weird little senses of humor. But it always seems to me that it’s the dogs that truly love us, for all of our horrible flaws. Perhaps its because we created them to be that way and they have no choice – but they still rock the role.
cubist@#2:
Not really eager to find out what percentage of the ecosystem we will take with us if we don’t (collectively) smarten up, though…
I remember reading stories of victorian adventurers – they’d get stuck someplace, run out of food, and eat their dogs. Then they’d make it sound as if the dogs had sacrificed themselves for the humans. Sad thing is, the poor dogs probably would’ve if they’d understood. I hope mankind is not heading for that sort of scenario, but we’ve been blowing past “final warning inflection point”s for a while.
One of the saddest science fiction stories I know is “Last of the Winnebagoes” by Connie Willis, where a plague has wiped out all the dogs and people are trying to make do with coyotes and other canids.
For an entertaining and not at all morbid guess, try this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/After-Man-Zoology-Dougal-Dixon/dp/0586057501/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1520233110&sr=1-1&keywords=dougal+dixon+after+man
It’s proper science fiction, as in, it’s science (zoology, and written by a zoologist), just fictional. It’s a not-very-comprehensive encyclopaedia, more of a review really, of the various animals that inhabit earth, across a number of habitats. The catch is, it’s written from the perspective of about 50 million years from now, after Homo Sapiens is extinct. There’s no plot or characters. There’s no explanation of why or how we went extinct. Assumptions include we take the ungulates, canids and cetaceans with us, and the lapines, rats and penguins evolve to fill the niches. Fascinated me as a child, fascinates me still.
Have you read City by Clifford D. Simak? I think you’d like it – the Dogs inherit the Earth.
Dunc@#8:
Have you read City by Clifford D. Simak? I think you’d like it – the Dogs inherit the Earth.
Oh, that’s a long-ago memory. I loved that book.
Also Andre Norton’s Breed to Come. Though I think she was being a bit speciesist by assuming the rats would be the bad guys.
brucegee1962@#6:
One of the saddest science fiction stories I know is “Last of the Winnebagoes” by Connie Willis
I couldn’t finish that one. Connie Willis is great, and I love her writing, but I’m too much of a dog person to confront that idea.
Haven’t read it in ages, but I remember being impressed with Sirius.
Rob Grigjanis@#11:
Haven’t read it in ages, but I remember being impressed with Sirius.
Queued! Looks interesting. (The cover made me think of Spike Milligan’s book on Hitler’s downfall)
I have my first dog ever. She is the best animal. She’s at the kennel while we are on vacation. And I miss her.
Raucous Indignation@#13:
I have my first dog ever. She is the best animal. She’s at the kennel while we are on vacation. And I miss her.
Awwww!! Yes, dogs are the best. At least she’s being cared for and you’ll come back for her.