For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Jose de Carvalho
It is worth noting that working animal were also required to be rested on the Sabbath
Shirley H
I believe that God loves all of His creatures. Man and animal and plant life. Just see the variety of all life! To create with such imagination is beyond anything any person could dare to aspire to. Think of all the kinds of eyes, hair, nails, bodies, colors, physical needs, etc etc...I do not believe that God will ever lose even one star... everything belongs to Him. He has a place for all of it. I believe that animals have emotions and feel pain, just as we do. Animals are special.