According to BBC News, "Yawning is known to be contagious in humans but now scientists have shown that pet dogs can catch a yawn, too."

Researchers say the copying activity suggests that canines are capable of empathizing with people.

I could have told them that—and they could have witnessed it—when I first brought Meadow into my home more than seven years ago.

Meadow was a few months old and had been living with us for only a couple of days when I experienced a rather painful event. I was crying into my husband's arms when Meadow sat down next to me and started whimpering. I'm not saying that Meadow was also expressing grief—but she was definitely expressing distress that was sparked by me.

Until now, only humans and their close primate relatives were thought to find yawning contagious.

I'm probably going to get criticized for this next sentence, but here it goes. In my opinion, the research supports that animals are in tune to human emotions, they understand more than we give them credit for, and they themselves have the capacity to experience emotions —although in ways that don't fit into our human definitions.

Don't get me wrong. I don't think treating animals like humans is good for anyone. But realizing that another being may be thinking and feeling and to share an understanding, that's a good thing—for everyone.

So, how 'bout it? Does your dog empathize with you?