Pet

For the acronym PET, see PET. For the comedy TV series, see Pets (tv programme).

Pets and humans each often contribute toward the happiness of the other in a pet relationship. Having a pet or being a pet may promote a longer, happier life.

A pet is an animal kept for companionship and enjoyment, as opposed to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful characteristics, for their attractive appearance, or for their song. Pets also generally seem to provide their owners with non-trivial health benefits; keeping pets has been shown to help relieve stress. There is now a medically-approved class of "therapy animals," mostly dogs, who are brought to visit confined humans. Walking a dog can provide both the owner and the dog with exercise, fresh air, and social interaction.

Domestication

While in theory any animal might be a pet, in practice only a small number of species of mammals (especially dogs and cats) and other small animals, such as birds or fish, are practical. A main reason is that large animals are not able to fit inside small dwellings.

In general, a pet must either be small enough (or easily controlled) for his or her undesirable behavioral tendencies to be negligible, or the animal must be actually domesticable. Examples of the former are such animals as fish (including carnivorous ones such as piranha), invertebrates or small reptiles.

A few animals are sufficiently capable of adapting to human interaction to be considered domesticable. Dogs ("Man's best friend") are considered to be a classic example of domesticated animals normally suited to being pets. Domestic dogs are quite similar to wolves, but their physical form and behavior are characteristically different, more than mere differences in size, coat, or coloring. This involves differences in head and eye shape, likely because this is more appealing to people (which appeal is manifest in the anthropomorphism of stuffed animals). Behaviorally speaking, characteristic changes in dogs due to domestication include a prolonged infancy, increased playfulness, and barking. Wolves are far less playful and don't bark. A long-term Russian project bred foxes for a few generations from captive wild animals, and eventually yielded barking foxes. Domestic cats appear to be less changed behaviorally by their association with humans, in comparison; however, they do fit the example of an animal being small enough to control. The same hunting tendencies that make domestic cats useful for control of vermin make its larger, wild relatives too dangerous for domestication. Even small wild felines, such as bobcats or ocelots, can seriously injure or kill a human.

Primates have a wide variety of properties that can lead to being good pets, but most species have certain characteristics that exclude them from this favor. Common chimpanzees — especially males — are not willing to allow humans to "take the lead" when they are adults, and as a result, they make for poor pets. Gorillas, mainly female ones, are rather better in this respect, though considerably larger. Bonobos, being more social than common chimpanzees, may be more suited to being pets when adult, but exhibit overt sexual behavior which is not accepted from pets in most human societies.

Many horses and related animals are suitable for human companionship as pets or work animals, while zebras, otherwise quite similar, are not. Zebras use biting as a means of expressing conflict within the herd, and this behavior seems quite unchangeable. By human standards, the biting would be rather savage. Horses and donkeys, on the other hand, don't have a biting habit quite as deep-seated or dangerous.

Among large marine animals, various species of dolphins and other cetaceans either don't have such behaviors, or can restrain them. Since humans are just about the size of seals, a primary orca prey, this is somewhat extraordinary for orcas. In explaining this, it has been established recently that orca communities often have a preferred food type (either fish or aquatic mammals), and use different hunting techniques in the wild.

Many animal species are difficult to handle and cannot be pets for the general populace. Raptors, such as eagles and falcons, must be handled very carefully to avoid attacks on their handlers; the sport of falconry is to a large extent ways of avoiding such outcomes, and so they are not really pets in the sense meant here. Large cats cannot become pets, as they do not reliably restrain their impulses (although cheetahs are an exception and have been kept as pets in the past). Nor do the large bears, for similar reasons. Small monkeys can be human companions, but they are notoriously unable to defer their curiosity which leads to much destruction. Several of the ferret and otter varieties can be human companions, though, perhaps especially for otters, while others, the curiosity and destruction issue is significant as well. Raccoons also fit this example. They adapt easily to almost any environment, but resist domestication.

Animals such as reptiles are typically considered exotic pets. This may change in the future, as 'exotic' pet ownership is increasing rapidly, and they suit many lifestyles owing to being low maintenance and do not take up much space. Some are quite exotic by any definition. The glofish, a genetically modified zebrafish with a bright red fluorescent color, is the first genetically modified animal to be engineered as a pet.

Dogs and cats are the most common types of pets, both having very different character traits. The dog is seen as a loyal companion, who is more amenable to be trained, whereas a cat is more independent, and as such are not generally trained similarly to dogs (though both of these generalizations vary widely by breed). Both can be very intelligent and can form incredibly strong bonds with humans.

Koko the gorilla is one of few examples of a non-human animal which has had an explicit pet. Using sign language, she requested a cat; her first pet was a kitten named All Ball, to which she was reported to be quite attached and mourned for several days after the cat escaped and was killed by a car.

A pet can be acquired from a pet store, an animal shelter, a breeder, and from private transactions, typically due to the giving away of extra newborns after the birth of a litter. See also pet adoption. Because of scarcity (unavailability due to import restrictions or danger of extinction) and personal safety (e.g. large cats), some pets are illegal in many jurisdictions.

People sometimes treat their pets much like children, especially when they do not have children, or their own have left home. Persons living alone often obtain a pet to help prevent loneliness or boredom. There are many pet products that also help relieve bordom in pets and can be found at specialty websites and stores.

Terminology

It is considered more acceptable by many people to use the word "companion animal" rather than "pet" because "pet" implies that the "purpose" of the animal is to be petted. Animals don't have "purposes". The term "companion animal" suggests a more equal and respectful relationship.

The term "pet" may also be applied to humans, usually in an endearing way by a lover, significant other, or partner. Calling another person a pet, though, can just as easily be considered an insult (see "plaything").

In veterinary medicine, dogs and cats are often considered "household" pets, while all other animals are grouped into either "farm animals" (such as horses, cows, sheep) and "exotics" (including pocket pets, birds, reptiles).

Pets and allergies

Some people with allergies can have adverse reactions to animal dander and fur or feathers. Some people with athsma can have attacks triggered by these. However, research supports that people who have been exposed to dogs and cats as pets from an early age actually develop an immunoresistance to these allergens.[1]

Objection to pets

Some animal rights campaigners object to the idea of having a companion animal. They believe that holding an animal against his or her will is violating the individual's right to exist as an individual being. Although many companion animals are well-fed, and may not be obviously suffering, many of their natural instincts are suppressed when they live with humans. For example, they cannot hunt or perform normal social behaviour. It is true that in many cases the the relationship is beneficial to both sides despite these problems. However, there is no guarantee of this either in law or in practice. Some humans even have their companion animals killed because it is no longer "convenient" for them to look after them. Companion animals, like other animals, have only the barest legal protection against deliberate cruelty and none whatsoever against being killed.

Cats who are given the choice often do leave their human companions. Dogs are often unable to do so, and, in any case, tend to be much more loyal to humans even when they are treated badly.

Local restrictions

Many cities and towns have local ordinances limiting the number of pets a person may have, and may also restrict or forbid certain pets (such as fowl or exotics).

The cities of Berkeley, California and Boulder, Colorado have passed laws stating that people who have pets do not "own" them, rather they are the pet's "guardian."

Most condominium associations and rental properties ban animals because of the smells and noise they create.

Overpopulation

Animal protection advocates try to call attention to the "pet overpopulation crisis" in the United States. According to the Humane Society of the United States, 3-4 million dogs and cats are euthanized each year in the country and many more are confined to cages in shelters. This crisis is created by non-spayed/neutered animals reproducing and people intentionally breeding animals. In an average year a fertile cat can produce three litters of kittens, with up to 4 to 6 kittens in each litter. Based on these numbers, one female cat and her offspring could produce up to 420,000 cats over a seven year period if not spayed or neutered. There are also major overpopulation problems with other pet species, such as birds and rabbits. Local humane societies, SPCA's and other animal protection organizations urge people to spay or neuter their pets and to adopt animals from shelters instead of purchasing them from breeders or pet stores.

See also

• Animal hoarder
• Human-animal bond
• Novelty pet
• Pet passport
• List of U.S. Presidential pets
• Animal keeping
• Pet sitter
• The Pet Network
• Residential pets

References

• Study supports theory that pets cut allergy risk - Reuters (Source: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, September 2006.)

External links

• Free Online Pets Guide A complete guide to raise healthy and happy pets.
• Wikibooks:How to choose your pet and take care of it
• Family Pets A collection of articles concerning taking care of many common pets.
• Animal Hospitals A directory that contains information on thousands of vet clinics throughout the US.
• allmyfurrypets.com - An open photo database for pet owners