Cofty opined, "Animals also have a consciousness to a lesser degree."
I would suggest that "different" might be better than "lesser" in this sentence.
I feel that remnants of Victorian chauvinism persist in our society. EVERYTHING that goes on in our brains goes on in the brains of our furry cousins. How can I say this? Because the hormones in mammalian brains are the same. These are chemical keys. If the keys are the same, the locks must be the same too.
I think anyone who really has a relationship with a companion animal knows what I'm talking about, while those who "own" pets they think are animatronic knick-knacks think I'm nuts.