Free Will along with speech are the two gifts that God gave to man which define how we were created in His image.
Animals operate on instinct. They do not have Free Will - the ability to make choices.
Animals cannot speak from a formulation of ideas. They make noises based on a sensory reaction to things that happen around and to them.
Stone is lifeless, so is clay.
Humans have self-will.
We have to partner with the Lord to be shaped by Him.
It is the Word and the holy Spirit in us that transform us.
In the absence of either or both we remain a self-styled mess.