A sympathy, empathy, pity, or just kindness?

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The other night after buying myself some biscuits and returning back home, I saw a pup(dog) shivering because of the cold weather. I picked it it up took it home and put it under some warm clothing. I left it back in the morning at the very same place where I found it.

My question is, was the display a sympathy, empathy, pity, or just kindness?

All of the above. I just looked up sympathy and it is an extension of empathy, which probably entails pity and your behavior was an act of kindness. That's my analysis. What seems like "simple acts" are still full of complex parts. It was also probably wonderful to spend a night with the puppy. Too bad you couldn't keep it.

Sympathy, empathy and kindness were definitely all present.

Empathy - you noticed the dog and perceived that it was unhappy.

Sympathy - you felt unhappy on the dog's behalf, and wanted to alleviate the dog's unhappiness.

Kindness - you helped the dog.

Pity is less clear. Pity is sympathy + superiority. If you felt superior to the dog as well as having sympathy for it, that's pity.

I don't think there is anything such as "just" kindness. Kindness is an important trait and I think you definitely displayed it. Along with compassion.

Lucky pup.

thanks for the input guys. I think I still need some time to understand the differences though.

Looking up compassion now.

What's happened to the dog now??

Was the dog a stray? Did you just leave it there in the cold street again? Doesn't it have an owner or a home or anyone to feed it?

I realise that the anecdote of the dog was only supposed to be an example, and the main point is asking about empathy, but I'm concerned about the poor little dog.

Please let us know what happened to it!

The dog was a stray. Stray dogs are very common here. The thought "how will it take care of itself, if I leave it back?" came into my mind. But, I do not have the necessary faculties to take care of a dog. I haven't spotted the pup again. But I assume that, it took care of itself. I mean, many strays take care of feeding themselves by looking up at the dumpsters. The temperature hasn't dropped to that low again.

So, I am hoping things are fine with the pup.