...I've seen a peanut stand,
...and I've even seen a rubber band,
but I'll be done seen 'bout everything, when I see an elephant fly (say what)!
I didn't say animals have "no concept of death" I said higher animals such as us with a conscious mind are "able to contemplate death." Major, major difference there. "concept of death" is inbedded in all animals that have the will, or should I say "instinct" for survival. "comtemplation of death" is the unique conscious behavior of the study of the "what if's" surrounding our own destiny.
All animals have a concept of death and they share the same submission when they realize death is upon them. They simply give up and accept it. Once they realize they are goners, they seek to "allow their destiny" to befall them.
The instinct to survive is there, but the concept of death is not realized until it is generally too late. Then the animal either regains the instinct to continue the fight, or "accepts" its demise and crawls under the porch to die. Up until it realizes it's too late, animals think they will live forever. They have no need for calenders or wristwatches. They eat, sleep, procreate, and to them this is a never ending life. They sense danger, they run.....but they return again and again to the same watering hole, don't they?
We as humans (and quite possibly some of the other higher animals) have the instinct to survive, but that is hidden in our subconscious. It's not needed like the lower animals out in front because we have a conscious which lets us "contemplate" death on a daily basis, and take the necessary steps to avoid an untimely death. However, for all the steps we take, we realize that sooner or later the hands of time will catch up with us. For this, we need an escape from the sheer terror and helplessness that we feel. Thus, God and the afterlife.
...one more thing, if folks disagree with this, and say that animals do contemplate death, and have a conscience to do so, then why do Christians tell me that dogs don't go to heaven?