1) How do you know animals don't have conscious awareness.
What about Coco the gorilla? What about dolphins?
2) Humans are animals. Humans have conscious awareness. So, some animals have conscious awareness. Which ones?
I am in agreement with you. I think consciousness is more basic than having the complex consciousness that humans exhibit. Some animals are closer to humans on the spectrum, but what is at the edge? Bacteria - with their incredible base consciousness?