Lots Of Families Around The World Have Pets, And There Are Numerous Different Sorts Of Pets All Of Which Demand Different Levels Of Looking After
There is an estimate that in Britain, over a quarter of households have a pet cat and about a third have a pet dog. The human wish for the company of animals has meant that, over a long period of time, a selection of species have been used as companions for humans to the extent that their behaviour is noticeably different from their wild relatives.
It is this difference that leads us to refer to pets as domesticated, and why we are content for cats, dogs, plus quite a few species of rodents and birds to live in our homes with us. Of course, there are a number of species of wild animals which are also kept as pets sometimes, but their behaviour determines that they have to be kept in conditions which protect the human owner from their beast’s wild instincts.
Looking after a pet is generally believed to provide the owner with recognised health benefits, as pets are in many cases able to reduce stress levels, and can boost the individual’s feelings of self worth, as the pet relies on the owner to provide the majority of its daily needs. Pets are known to be a help to the elderly and for those with some mental health problems, as well as being a friend to those who live without regular human company.
The domestic dog is usually a loyal, trusting and sociable animal which will join in games and fun, and with the right attention and training can be incredibly obedient. The vast variety of different breeds means that there is a pet dog that is ideal for everyone – from the biggest liveliest dog living on a country estate to the most delicate little miniature breed usually seen travelling in its celebrity owner’s handbag! These over indulged celebrity pooches probably have their own room, a chef to cook their food, a personal dentist, a regular booking at the grooming parlour and an appointment for Laser eye surgery if they need it!
And dogs can also be trained to aid humans as well, as is the case with guide dogs for the blind and hearing dogs for the deaf. To be able to educate an animal so well that they can completely take over as eyes or ears is an amazing achievement. And then what happens to guide dogs if they have sight problems or hearing dogs if they begin to go deaf – do they have Laser eye surgery or hearing aids?!
The domestic cat is a far different sort of pet. Cats are generally self confident, independent and truly believe that their surroundings should be arranged to the necessary standard a cat expects. (Would you believe that I’ve looked after cats recently?) But don’t let folk tell you that it’s impossible to train a cat! Although I would define it as ‘educating’ rather than ‘training’ – it’s basically about the psychology! Cats are obviously lower maintenance than dogs in that they don’t demand to be walked every day and can take care of themselves much better if you are out of the house for more than a few hours. Whilst giving them their freedom, I did make sure that they came indoors overnight – I couldn’t be doing with one of those cat flaps that uses a magnet or breaking a Laser eye beam or whatever to open and close it – I’m convinced I would have found a lot more than just my own animals in the house!
Many people opt to keep rodents, such as rabbits, hamsters, gerbils and rats, all of which make perfect pets, although hamsters usually sleep during the day, so are not quite so good for young children who want to play with the animals during daylight hours. Rodents do need to be kept in a cage (which should be big enough to give them plenty of room to exhibit normal behaviour without being overcrowded), but some animals, such as rabbits, can be house trained and allowed to roam freely indoors. Similarly, ferrets can be housetrained and given the run of the house, and these animals have become increasingly popular as house pets over the last twenty years or so. Personally, I would be worried about leaving small animals like these to have the run of the house – I’d maybe have|need|want[/spin] to fit Laser eye security beams across all exit points, as I’d be fretting about them escaping and vanishing.
Many people also choose to have pet birds, from noisy parrots and mynah birds to cages of finches, canaries and such like. Once again, species such as parrots can be permitted some freedom in the house if the owner wants, but I should say that personally I’ve never been keen on birds as house pets, because keeping them in a cage is taking away their freedom to exhibit their usual behaviour and fly. (And yes, I realise the same thing could be applied to anything in a cage, but to me it seems more wrong with birds.)
In general though, it seems obvious that humans and animals can share the same house and be good for each other at the same time. And for this we should thank our ancestors a long time ago who realised that it would be a good idea to welcome some beasts into their houses. At a guess I would assume that the original reason for encouraging them was to contribute to hunting and pest control, but whether that is accurate or not, it’s something all animal lovers should be grateful to them for.
