Dawn Braasch, the owner of Bunch of Grapes introduced me to a small crowd in Vineyard Haven on the second floor of her beautiful bookstore, which President Obama visits every year on his vacation. It was an intelligent, interesting group. Had a great talk but many were upset with my contention that dogs and other animals do not grieve in the manner of humans. We disagreed, but very respectfully and comfortably. Disagreement that is civil is to be celebrated, at least for me. I appreciate it.

Still, I am at odds with lots of people about this. There is the idea that animals grieve for one another and for humans and my belief is that animals are upset when a living thing they know disappears. It makes them visibly anxious, from elephants to many birds to dogs and cats. But I do not believe they understand the concept of death and consciously mourn loss. That is a complex emotional and intellectual construct that I do not believe animals possess. Everyone has heard stories of dogs and cats and other animals who do heroic things, from the battlefield to back yard.

I’ve heard these stories, and I think we often confuse powerful instinct for heroics. I have lost a lot of animals, and never seen another animal grieve. If the Katrina dogs did that, many would have perished, as would the 12 million or so who are rehomed every year without mourning their prior owners or homes. We see what we want to see, what we need to see.

It was a very enjoyable evening for me, stimulating, warm and meaningful. Thursday, the long tour resumes in Wilmington, Vt. at the Deerfield Elementary School.