Well, Brendan,
I have to take issue with the idea that a cat or dog has automatic/reflexive love. How do you know? Are you quite sure of that? Have you slept with a cat's sweet breath on your face at night and felt its joy at your nearness as it licked your hand? Have you been surprised when your dog gazed deeply into your eyes and put its head onto your shoulder for no "reason" at all?
And how much have you studied Down's Syndrome? Can you know that such a person does not love? Can you say that they don't bring love into a family who feels blessed by his/her presence?
I would be willing to admit a conscious computer to the circle of love if it so happens....and even you
Intelligence is not penalized. It is what the soul might do with that intelligence that may be questionable, right? But I know nothing of the penalties. If there are penalties, I will surely suffer them. However, I choose to think that love is greater than all of our questions and all of our actions.
love, blink