The main focus of this paper is to analyse the contribution to animal theology of two giants of French philosophy and theology: René Descartes and Victor Hugo. Through the prism of these two thinkers, we can grasp two opposing possibilities of the theological discourse on animals: the first excludes animals from moral concern, the second offers a vision of their inclusion. Descartes considers animals as automata without souls; Hugo as friendly creatures whose suffering merits our compassion. One views human power over animals as absolute; the other prescribes moral limits. These rival perceptions have jostled within the Christian tradition and within wider society for centuries. Which view is most likely to prevail in the Christian centuries to come?