Pet

A pet, or companion animal, is an animal kept mainly for company or fun, not for work, farming, or science. Pets are often chosen because they look nice, are cute, intelligent, or have friendly personalities. Sometimes animals, like a stray, are taken in out of kindness and become loved family members.

Two of the most popular pets are dogs and cats. Many families also keep rabbits, ferrets, or small animals like gerbils, hamsters, and guinea pigs. Other pets include birds like parrots, reptiles like turtles and lizards, and even fish that make their owners happy.

Pets give many benefits. They can give company, especially to people who live alone. Walking a dog helps both the person and the animal 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 health benefits to their owners.

Pet popularity

In China, people spent more money on pets between 2010 and 2018. They have many dogs and cats, and in total, China has about 755 million pets.

In Italy, a survey found many pets, including dogs, cats, fish, birds, and even snakes. In the UK, many homes have cats or dogs. In the United States, there are many pet cats and dogs. In 2013, there were more pets than children in the US.

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 dangerous. Some 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 cause health problems like joint pain. 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 help their owners stay healthy. Many people feel happier and less lonely when they have a pet. This is especially true for older adults. Pets can also encourage people to exercise more, like when walking a dog.

Research shows that people who own dogs might have lower blood pressure and a smaller chance of heart problems.

But there are some health risks with pets, too. These can include allergies, asthma from pet dander or fur, and falling over a pet, which can be a risk for older people. It’s important to keep pets clean and healthy to prevent diseases or parasites. While pets bring many good things into our lives, it’s important to know both the good and the responsibilities of 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, in ways that are similar to caring 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 made by the Council of Europe. It helps improve how pets are cared for and treated. The convention started on May 1, 1992. By June 2020, 24 countries agreed to follow it.

National and local laws

Ownership or guardianship

Traditionally, pets were seen as private property owned by individual persons. Now, many places have legal protections to ensure pets are treated well. Since 2000, some areas in North America call pet owners guardians. This change shows changing attitudes but does not give pets the same rights as people. Some veterinarians and breeders disagree with this. Questions about pet responsibility can matter in cases 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 have rules about what kinds of pets people can keep. These rules might ban some dog breeds like pit bulls or Rottweilers, or limit keeping animals like livestock, exotic animals, or wild animals. Some places also have rules about how big a pet can be. Buildings like condominiums and rental properties may also have pet rules.

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 made its list of approved pets in February 2015, with 100 types of mammals such as cats and dogs. By January 2017, the list had grown to 123 species, while the list of animals not suitable as pets also expanded to 153 species.

Environmental impact

Pets can affect the environment, especially in places where many people have them. In the United States, there are millions of dogs and cats. These pets eat a lot of food and produce waste. They also use resources like land, water, and fuel.

Because of what pets eat, they can 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 be many different kinds of animals. Common pets include mammals like rabbits, dogs, hedgehogs, and small pigs. You can also have birds such as budgies and parrots, fish such as goldfish and koi, and small creatures like ants in ant farms.

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

History

Archaeology shows that people may have had dogs as pets for at least 12,000 years. In Ancient Egypt, dogs and baboons were kept as pets and sometimes buried with their owners.

During the Victorian era in Britain, keeping pets became more common. This time saw the start of dog shows and the creation of the Kennel Club in 1873 to organize these events. Pets were friends and also showed a person's status.

Pet ownership by non-humans

Pet ownership by animals in the wild has not been observed and is likely non-existent. Some studies show interesting behaviors, such as capuchin monkeys caring for marmoset monkeys. Chimpanzees have been seen playing with small animals like hyraxes.

A study from 2010 suggests that human relationships with animals are unique to our species. Keeping pets is an ancient human trait. This behavior may have developed because humans naturally project their feelings onto animals. This is linked to domestication and concern for animal welfare. Some researchers believe that keeping pets provided practical benefits, like helping with hunting or pest control. 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. They think it limits the animals' freedom and treats them like things. But 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.