Pet ownership by animals in the wild, as an analogue to the human phenomenon, has not been observed and is likely non-existent in nature. Archaeology suggests that human ownership of dogs as pets may date back to at least 12,000 years ago. Domestication contrasts with taming, which is simply when an un-domesticated, wild animal has become tolerant of human presence, and perhaps even enjoys it. Pets have commonly been considered private property, owned by individual persons.

For instance, the 163 million dogs and cats kept in the United States consume about 20% of the amount of dietary energy that humans do and an estimated 33% of the animal-derived energy. Dog and cat animal product consumption is responsible for the release of up to 64 ± 16 million tons CO2-equivalent methane and nitrous oxide, two powerful greenhouse gasses. Americans are the largest pet owners in the world, but pet ownership in the US has considerable environmental costs.

• Research at the University of California at Davis concluded that Alzheimer’s patients suffer less stress and have fewer anxious outbursts if there is a dog or cat in the home.
• Having the love and companionship of a pet can make a child feel important and help them develop a positive self-image.
• In Ancient Egypt, dogs and baboons were kept as pets and buried with their owners.
• Even watching fish in an aquarium can help reduce muscle tension and lower your pulse rate.

Pets that are bred for aesthetic purposes may have full-fledged show careers. Other pets may be bred for racing or other competitive sports, around which sizable industries have been built. If evacuation is not possible, animal owners must decide whether to move large animals to a barn or turn them loose outside.

See how much you know about the unconventional animals people keep as pets in this quiz. Exotic pets are usually wild animals caught while young and include jaguars, alligators, ocelots, monkeys, apes, and kinkajous. Throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth-century pet keeping in the modern sense gradually became accepted throughout Britain. Initially, aristocrats kept dogs for both companionship and hunting. By the nineteenth century, the rise of the middle class stimulated the development of pet keeping and it became inscribed within the bourgeois culture. If you become separated from your pet during an emergency, a picture of you and your pet together will help you document ownership and allow others to assist you in identifying your pet.

There is some evidence that pets can facilitate social interaction. Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Colorado at Boulder, Leslie Irvine has focused her attention on pets of the homeless population. Her studies of pet ownership among the homeless found that many modify their life activities for fear of losing their pets. Additionally, many refuse to house in shelters if their pet is not allowed to stay with them.

Pet Insurance

Hutch, or cage, pets can be kept indoors or outdoors, and paddock pets are stabled outdoors. Although the spread of diseases from animals to people is rare, pets do sometimes carry germs that can make people sick. In the pet-specific pages that follow, learn about the germs that each animal can spread plus actions you can take that can help you and your pets stay healthy. Housepets, particularly dogs and cats in industrialized societies, are also highly susceptible to obesity.

Aircraft restrictions and acceptable kennels

A study by the National Institute of Health found that people who owned dogs were less likely to die as a result of a heart attack than those who did not own one. There is some evidence that Pets News may have a therapeutic effect in dementia cases. Other studies have shown that for the elderly, good health may be a requirement for having a pet, and not a result.

Available Pets

Dogs trained to be guide dogs can help people with vision impairment. Dogs trained in the field of Animal-Assisted Therapy can also benefit people with other disabilities. In China, spending on domestic animals has grown from an estimated $3.12 billion in 2010 to $25 billion in 2018. The Chinese people own 51 million dogs and 41 million cats, with pet owners often preferring to source pet food internationally. There are a total of 755 million pets, increased from 389 million in 2013. People most commonly get pets for companionship, to protect a home or property or because of the perceived beauty or attractiveness of the animals.