I agree with you Lam. I seem to remember a debate; what makes humans, human?
Where Custard went on for weeks it seemed about this issue.
I believe animals can think in abstract ways. The more intelligent the creature the more diverse it's ability to think.
The data on Alex the parrot illustrated the birds ability to think in the abstract. Humans are very smart animals. But I do not believe for a instance other creatures are not intelligent enough to think about the 'self'. A intelligent dog will not bark at his reflection because he knows it is him. This is a case of a animal with a concept of self.
Many Christians tend to anthropomorphsize things but also claim that humans are somehow more important and special because they were created in Gods image. I contend that a creatures inability to be self aware does not mean it is any less important than man. We matter because we say we matter. But if man where to become extinct tomorrow the Earth would not give one shit.