08/14/2026
Monkeys, elephants, and even pets sometimes act in ways that could be interpreted as seeking privacy, Ross Andersen reported in 2025. Do humans ever owe it to animals to look away? https://theatln.tc/jr7nVJji
Earlier this year, Andersen took his dog out to relieve himself at night—but when they made eye contact, it gave Andersen an uneasy feeling. “I wonder if my sleepy-eyed stare strikes him as intrusive,” he writes.
Dogs and other pets don’t get to decide the amount of distance that exists between them and their human owners. They are expected to return right away when called. Rarely are they allowed to refuse physical attention. “We do all of these things because we love them, but this love is one that we thoroughly control,” Andersen continues. “To them, at times, it may feel like something else.” Read more about what Andersen learned about animal privacy at the link.
🎨: The Atlantic. Source: Getty.
