Being a lifelong observer of nature and domesticated animals it seems obvious to conclude that animals express various degrees of reasoning abilities. I believe many animal species experience feelings that are not based upon instincts alone. They just lack the mental flexibility inherent in the human species.
The most intelligent animals are chimpanzees, dolphins, elephants, horses, octopus, crows, squirrels, dogs, cats and pigs. Dogs in particular use humans to solve their problems for them.
Darwin was one of the first scientists to write about the existence and nature of emotions in animals. Six emotions have been identified as basic: anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and surprise. Complex emotions would include contempt, jealousy and sympathy. Dogs and chimps are known to express jealousy when it comes to getting attention from humans.
There's more to animal behavior then instincts or learned behavior. Animals are curious, communicate needs, and even have expressions. More and more science is uncovering a secret world where animals reason, from apes and crows using tools to whales learning to communicate with other species just to belong.
Several articles have been published in support of animal intelligence and their ability to reason. A few titles include; Beluga whale learns to 'talk' to pod of bottlenose dolphins, What Are Animals Thinking? More Than You Suspect, How Animals Self-Medicate, How Animals Think, and A New Frontier in Animal Intelligence. There are many, more.
Did you know...
Chimpanzees are better than humans in some memory tasks
Goats have excellent long-term memory
Elephants can work together as a team with no human prompts
Parrots reproduce human language and some even have an understanding of the meaning of words
In the words of Temple Grandin ...
I wish animals could have more than just a low-stress life and a quick, painless death. I wish animals could have a good life too with something useful to do. I think we owe them that.