Why do human beings keep pets?
Daniel
Morgan, Boston, US
- From a housekeeping point of view, I suppose a pet is a kind of ornament - the best ornament you can have because not only is it (usually) very aesthetically pleasing, it moves around the home of its own accord, it is warm and smooth to the touch, and it responds to our presence and keeps us company! From a more biological viewpoint, perhaps it is our instinct to keep horses, camels, goats, hounds, pigeons and other practical animals that drives us to look after more decorative creatures such as cats or goldfish. The same could be said of plants.
Peadar Mac
Con Aonaigh, Brixton, UK
- I guess it's something to do with getting off on having power over another being, encouraged by pressure to conform with what's become a habitual but nonetheless regrettable cultural norm in many human societies. But when the matter is considered rationally, only sad, inadequate human individuals would wish to keep members of other species as captives.
Tez B,
London, UK
- If an alien saw a human walking his dog in the park, and observed the human "clearing up" after the dog, who do you think the alien would assume was in charge? Maybe pets keep humans.
Alasdair
Patrick, Dana Point, California USA
- Wouldn't anyone want a partner who worshipped them, always welcomed them home enthusiastically, ate gratefully at every meal, was content with cheap outings and presents and gave lifelong loyalty and protection? I read last year that a large number of US women wished they could marry their dogs! Try that lot for a start.
Carla,
Crewe, UK
- Keep them as captives? I don't notice my dogs running off to freedom every time they get the chance. The real reason people keep pets is for the affection, companionship and fun that it provides. Pets stay for the same reasons plus a ready supply of food and a warm and safe bed. Incidentally, I have usually found that people who keep pets and those who were brought up in pet owning homes are better for it: relaxed among other people's pets, quite happy to accept the occasional dog hair or scratched door and with a healthy respect for animals and their welfare.
Ev,
Derbyshire, UK
- It's Tez B who's the sad, inadequate individual. Pets are animals which could scarcely even survive, let alone be happy, living in the wild. Humans beings provide a safe and nourishing for such creatures, and protect them from the dangers they would otherwise face.
Arthur
Stuart , London, England
- Anyone who has had a cat will know cats don't have owners they have staff!
G. Baker, S
Ockendon
- Several points: 1)I don't own my cat, my cat owns me. 2)My cat is in many ways a baby substitute. I'm 41 & a spinster, & need to be needed. 3)got the cat during a very stressful period in my life. It's been proved that stroking an animal lowers your blood pressure.
Margaret,
Folkestone England
- It makes us feel human.
Ross,
- You got it wrong Ross, being with humans makes me feel human, playing with my dog makes me feel more like being a dog. As for TezB, someone who needs to get attention by being insulting is indeed an inadequate individual.
Dominic
Grigg, Rotterdam Netherlands
- As an addition to G. Baker of S Ockendons' comment - "Smart cats do not have staff - they have slaves"!
Anne Bibby,
Lafayette USA
- Why do people keep pets but eat animals? Is there really a difference between "pets" and other animals?
Ali,
Canterbury, UK
- Pets are different from other animals in that we see them as 'friends', rather than 'food'. This is why we give our pets names and also why it is wise not to give a name to any animal you want to eat.
Juliette,
Olton UK
- There's something fascinating about the way British meat eaters get all mushy over cows' big brown eyes and ickle fluffy lambs and then happily devour them on Sundays, but become almost incoherently xenophobic when confronted with the possibility that people might eat dogs, cats or horses in other countries. Most peculiar.
Toby,
Canterbury UK
- It's all very well saying that without us looking after them these animals would not otherwise survive in the dangerous world, but .... 1) Pedigree's are not natural, only exist because we made them, so we have a responsibility for caring for them 2) Without humans the world wouldn't be so dangerous anyway
Mikhaila,
Cardiff UK
- A pet is a person with fur.
Marsha,
Cwmbran UK
- An animal is a person with fur!
Marsha,
Cwmbran UK
- Domestic pets such as dogs and cats all became domestic over thousands of years. In fact it was mainly due to stone age women that animals such as wolves became the domestic animals we have today. The cubs at at a young ages have the same appeal and innoccence as our own young and so became intertwined with our own development.
Barry,
Wales
- Because you don't end up with the NSPCC on your doorstep if you have too much to drink, decide to stay over at a friends and leave the cat alone in the house overnight (although what said cat may then choose to do to your beanbag is an entirely different matter...)
Janet,
Portsmouth
- Peadar's idea about instinct is probably wrong. Humans were fully modern (instincts and all) by the time they began to domesticate livestock so there is no way it can be 'instinctive' to keep domestic animals in the way suggested (except possibly dogs which do appear to have co-evolved with human populations, but as companions, not food).
Max Wurr,
Stanmore United Kingdom
- People, sometimes, smile in your face then stab you in the back. Animals don't, and thereby provide a welcome respite from having to watch your back ...
linnea,
Berkeley, USA
- If Tezb had a pet I'm sure he would be a more affable chap!
Brian,
Liverpool, England
- "A pet is a person with fur. An animal is a person with fur!" I will agree with Marsha when a pet or an animal tell me the same thing. Pets are adorable, but fundamentally they're stuffed toys that can move without batteries and bark/moo etc.
Simon
Alpren, Hertford, England
- As a fairly late comer to the pet keeping fraternity, who got them to please my children, progressing from goldfish to dog via hamster and cat, I can say that I like having a cat and a dog because; 1. They are relatively free i.e. not caged. 2. They teach us the pleasure of just being true to who/what you are - not having to achieve, or be best, just be. 3. They are beautiful, interesting and entertaining to watch (back to the animated ornament idea) and interact with. 4. They feel nice. 5. The dog barks at strangers at the house which makes me feel better when I am alone. 6. The cat keeps mice away. 7. My kids will come out on a long walk with me if we have the dog with us. That's quite a lot of plus sides.
Anna,
London, UK
- In defence of Tez B, there are some 'pets' that need to be held captive, for example snakes kept in glass tanks and crocodiles in bathrooms. I think keeping that kind of pet does show inadequacy. To suggest that domestic cats and dogs are captives is ridiculous though.
Tom
Boddington, Leeds, UK
- I think our "cavemen" ancestors domesticated dogs for companionship, protection and as an aid to hunting. The very same reasons why humans and dogs live side-by-side now!
Nicky
Jones, Bicester UK
- I have my pets because if I didn't adopt them, they'd likely be euthanized in an animal shelter. If we are going to keep pets, we need to take their humane treatment seriously and always spay and neuter them. It's shameful the number of companion animals that are killed here in the USA because there aren't any homes for them. Meanwhile, too many people flock to pet stores and breeders to purchase the newest trendy breed.
Andrea,
Washington, DC USA
- Tez is totally entitled to his opinion. I am on the side of Toby and (I think) Anna with their thoughts. I have 2 cats and adore them of course but they definitely own me rather than the other way around! I often wonder why I adore animals so much and yet have no time for children/babies etc. I am a married 35 year old woman but I have a very active social life and no intention of having kids. I live in London and it's a very non kids culture. My cats are my substitute babies I guess the machismos (and baby junkie women) out there will say but I'm happy with that. My cats are loved, well fed and get lots of my attention however they look after each other when I'm not around so everybody's happy. I get to give my maternal instinct a little room by looking after them, they get a great life and I get to keep my social life and not have to spend money on nappies that I could be spending on shoes. I often wonder why I like animals so much (I'm not a 'cat person' I love all animals, cats are just easy to keep) and yet think babies are noisy horrible creatures. What IS that?! Why do we keep pets? I logged onto this website to find out but still no answer. And any women out there thinking about abusing me for not performing my natural function forget it, I've heard it all.
Olivia,
Worcester Park UK
- I think Simon has a very two dimensional attitude to life - how can he liken a beautiful living creature, whether wild or domesticated, to a static stuffed toy?! Anyway, animals do communicate all the time, however, not usually in 'human'! My dog does tell me how much of a person he is. Although he understands lots of words in my language, it's taking me years to catch on with his. I would say that I keep him because it is a privilege to have such a lovely companion as part of my life. I think it's sad that in our society we are so far removed from nature. I am surrounded by plastic, concrete and pollution instead of trees, flowers and animals. My pet keeps me more in touch with nature and, therefore, reality.
Source : http://www.theguardian.com/
