Pet

A pet, or companion animal, is an animal kept primarily for a person's company or entertainment rather than as a working animal, livestock, or a laboratory animal. Pets are often chosen because they have attractive or cute appearances, intelligence, and friendly personalities. Some animals may be taken in out of kindness, like a stray, and become loved members of a family no matter what they are like.

Two of the most popular pets are dogs and cats. Many families also enjoy keeping rabbits, ferrets, or small animals like gerbils, hamsters, and guinea pigs. There are also pets such as birds like parrots, reptiles like turtles and lizards, and even fish that bring joy to their owners.

Pets offer many benefits to people. They can give companionship, especially to those who live alone or spend a lot of time by themselves. Walking a dog can be a good way for both the person and the animal to get exercise and meet others. Some animals are trained as therapy animals to visit places like children in hospitals or nursing homes to help people feel better. Having a pet can bring comfort, happiness, and even health benefits to their owners.

Pet popularity

In China, people spent a lot more money on pets between 2010 and 2018, going from about $3 billion to $25 billion. They have around 51 million dogs and 41 million cats. In total, China has about 755 million pets.

In Italy, a survey in 2002 found about 45 million pets, including dogs, cats, fish, birds, and even snakes. In the UK, a survey in 2007 found that many homes had cats or dogs. In the United States, there are about 86 million pet cats and 78 million pet dogs. In 2013, there were more pets than children in the US — four times as many!

Effects on pets' health

Keeping animals as pets can sometimes be bad for their health if their needs aren't met. For example, feeding chocolate or grapes to dogs can be very dangerous for them, and certain houseplants like philodendrons, Easter lilies, poinsettias, begonia, and aloe vera can harm cats or dogs if they eat them.

Many pets, especially dogs and cats in industrialized societies, can become overweight. This can lead to health problems like diabetes, joint pain, and other serious issues. Not getting enough exercise and eating too much are the main reasons pets can become obese.

Effects of pets on their caregivers' health

Pets can bring many health benefits to their owners. Many people believe that having a pet can improve mental and physical health. For example, pets can help people feel less lonely, especially older adults, and can encourage exercise and care. Studies have shown that pet owners, particularly dog owners, may have lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of heart problems.

However, there are also some health risks linked to pets. These include allergies, asthma from pet dander or fur, and the risk of falling over a pet, especially for older people. It's also important to keep pets clean and healthy to avoid diseases or parasites. Overall, while pets can greatly enhance our lives, it's important to understand both the benefits and the responsibilities that come with caring for them.

Main article: RAND
Main articles: guide dogs, Animal-Assisted Therapy, therapy dog

Pet parenting

Pet parenting means raising pets, especially dogs and cats, using ways that are similar to how people care for children. Many people call themselves "dog moms" or "cat dads" when they care for their pets this way. This idea of pet parenting is more common in cities, where there are fewer children, and it has been growing, especially in the United States.

Some people choose pets instead of having children because they feel it is easier to care for a pet, or because they cannot afford to raise a child. Pets can also give a sense of family and care, especially for people who do not have children. Many pet parents feel close to their pets and see them as part of their family.

Legislation

Treaties

The European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals is a treaty from 1987 created by the Council of Europe. It aims to improve the care and treatment of pets and set basic rules to protect them. The convention became active on May 1, 1992, and by June 2020, 24 countries had agreed to follow it.

National and local laws

Ownership or guardianship

Traditionally, pets have been seen as private property owned by individual persons. Over time, many places have created legal protections to make sure pets are treated well. Since the year 2000, some areas in North America have started to call pet owners guardians instead. This change reflects shifting attitudes but does not give pets the same legal rights as people. Some veterinarians and breeders disagree with these changes. Questions about who is responsible for a pet can become important in situations like purchase or adoption, custody, divorce, estate and inheritance, injury, damage, and veterinary malpractice.

In the United Kingdom, you must be at least 16 years old to own a pet.

Limitations on species

Further information: Exotic pet § Legality

Many places set rules about what kinds of pets people can keep. These rules might ban certain dog breeds like pit bulls or Rottweilers, or they might limit keeping animals like livestock, exotic animals, or wild animals. Some places also have special rules for how big a pet can be. Buildings like condominiums and places that rental properties allow may also have rules about pets.

In Belgium and the Netherlands, the government keeps lists of animals that are okay to keep as pets and those that are not. The Netherlands first created its list of approved pets in February 2015, including 100 types of mammals such as cats and dogs. By January 2017, this list had grown to include 123 species, while the list of animals not suitable as pets had also expanded to 153 species.

Environmental impact

Pets can have a big effect on the environment, especially in places where many people have them. In the United States, there are around 163 million dogs and cats. These pets eat a lot of food — about 20% of the energy that people eat and 33% of the energy from animal foods. They also produce waste and use resources like land, water, and fuel.

Because of what pets eat, they help release gases that warm the planet, such as methane and nitrous oxide. Even though pets are loved by many, it's important to think about how they affect the world around us.

Types

Pets can come from many different types of animals. Some common pets are mammals, such as rabbits, dogs, hedgehogs, and even small pigs. There are also birds like budgies and parrots, fish like goldfish and koi, and smaller creatures like ants in ant farms.

Some wild animals, like certain snakes or monkeys, are also kept as pets, but this is not recommended. These animals often need special care that is hard to provide at home, and keeping them can be dangerous. Many places have rules about which wild animals can be kept as pets, and owners may need special permission.

History

Archaeology suggests that human ownership of dogs as pets may date back to at least 12,000 years ago. In Ancient Greece and Rome, people openly grieved for the loss of a dog, as shown by tombstones commemorating their pets. In Ancient Egypt, dogs and baboons were kept as pets and sometimes buried with their owners.

During the Victorian era in Britain, pet keeping became more common and was especially popular among the middle class. This period saw the rise of dog shows and the creation of the Kennel Club in 1873 to organize these events. Pets were not just companions but also symbols of social status and respectability.

Pet ownership by non-humans

Pet ownership by animals in the wild has not been observed and is likely non-existent. However, some studies show interesting behaviors, such as capuchin monkeys caring for marmoset monkeys, though chimpanzees have been seen playing with small animals like hyraxes, which sometimes ends with the animals being harmed.

A study from 2010 suggests that human relationships with animals are unique to our species and that keeping pets is an ancient human trait. This behavior may have developed because humans naturally project their feelings onto animals, a trait linked to domestication and concern for animal welfare. Some researchers believe that keeping pets provided practical benefits, like helping with hunting or pest control, while others think it may be a side effect of human empathy applied to animals.

Ethics

Some people worry that keeping pets might not be fair to animals because it limits their freedom and treats them like objects. However, others believe that having pets can be kind if done the right way. There are also debates among people who don’t eat meat about whether it’s right to keep animals that need to eat meat as pets.