I don’t know about animals not retaliating, I know of two dogs who would quite clearly snub their owners on return from boarding kennels. They were definitely sending a message.
I agree with @Cathie. I have absolutely seen pets display jealousy.
It was a big room, the pillow was small and I don’t recall ever witnessing a cat poop and pee during a single litter box visit. Yet he did his business twice on the same pillow. I don’t see that outcome as a response explained by fear or anxiety.
I don’t know what animals possess intellectually or emotionally. I do know long running human assumptions about animal cognition have repeatedly been proven false over time and there are most definitely animals with reputations for retaliating in anger. I wouldn’t have included house cats among animals with higher intelligence capable of emotional manipulation until I realized how well my cats have trained me to meet their emotional and physical needs.
A dog may act differently after spending time in a kennel, following extended absence from their owner. Dogs experience, basic emotions, such as fear, sadness, loneliness, and even depression. They do not have the brain capacity to experience high-level thoughts and emotions such as anger. What you’re seeing as a dog that is likely traumatized to some degree because it was suddenly placed in strange surroundings, away from everything it knows and not given its usual routine to follow. The dog is not thinking “My owner packed their bags and went on a luxury cruise and left me to rot in a concrete stall, I’m not gonna talk to them for two weeks so they learn a lesson and don’t do it again!”. They simply do not operate that way.
@Prissie you have know idea whether I was referring to “an extended stay” as you assumed or an overnight. You have no personal knowledge of the situation.
(Post edited by the Forum team to comply with the Community Guidelines).
A dog can be traumatized even after only one night being thrown into an unfamiliar environment and estranged from his “pack” for reasons he or she cannot possibly understand.
You seem quite adamant about that.
Could you please share your sources?
I always love to learn about new theories which try to explain animal behaviour and communication, particularly inter species communication.
I am not an ethologist. I do have an MA in psychology but I must admit that I am a complete ignorant about new trends in the field and it’s been a long time since I was last in contact with the academic world. Still, I am really fascinated to know about this taxonomy that categorizes depression as a basic emotion and anger as a higher one that requires a developed level of thought.
Interesting. I recall learning about a study in which graduate students captured either crows or raven on campus and then did some experiments with them (not cruel).
Anyways, when they released the birds back on campus, these birds would attack the graduate students when they saw them. Seems to be a higher level response.
If I come across the study, I’ll share. Plus, there are other indications of emotions with animals. Have you ever owned a queen cat? They definitely express anger.
This is the study, from University of Washington:
Quite fascinating, really. Over decades they discovered that not only do the crows recognize & hold grudges against those who threatened or were “mean” to them, they also recognize & reward people who treat them…& even pass the information to other crows & to generations that come after them.
I have my own flock (murder) of wild crows that I feed when I’m home, & they always seem to know when I’ve returned from a trip, & start hanging out around the house to welcome me back. (And to get their free treats, of course!)
Yup, I remember reading about crow grudges, too. Make sure to not cross them. 
Thanks for sharing. Very interesting reading.
I will start a new thread on this topic and provide from links to various sources.
Hi everyone!
As OP hasn’t returned to this discussion, and as it’s veered a bit off course, I’m going to close it to new replies.
If @SunnyJim does want to continue discussing the situation, I’m happy to reopen at their request.
Jenny 