Why is it that 99% of the population would call you a murderer for killing a dog, whereas they'd knowingly step on hundreds of ants or roaches with a care in the world for the suffering they cause?
Although this definitely has to do with the expressional abilities of whatever is being hurt (i.e cats and dogs both make sounds when hurt) that insects lack, but other animals like reptiles that do are hurt all the same with the same apathy.
It seems to me that since this is so universal, it must be some sort of genetic predisposition, probably for some evolutionary advantage, that humans are greatly more affected by mammals or at least mammal-esque creatures like birds.
Any thoughts??