A pet, or companion
animal, is an animal kept
primarily for a person's company or
entertainment rather than as a working
animal, livestock,
or a laboratory
animal. Popular pets are often
considered to have attractive/cute appearances, intelligence,
and relatable personalities, but some
pets may be taken in on an altruistic basis
(such as a stray animal) and accepted by
the owner regardless of these
characteristics.
Two of the most popular
pets are dogs and cats.
Other animals commonly kept include rabbits; ferrets; pigs; rodents such
as gerbils, hamsters, chinchillas, rats, mice,
and guinea
pigs; birds such
as parrots, passerines,
and fowls; reptiles such
as turtles, lizards, snakes,
and iguanas; aquatic
pets such as fish, freshwater
snails, and saltwater snails; amphibians such
as frogs and salamanders;
and arthropod pets
such as tarantulas and hermit
crabs. Smaller pets include rodents,
while the equine and bovine group
include the largest companion animals.
Pets provide their
owners, or guardians,[1] both
physical and emotional benefits. Walking
a dog can provide both the human and the
dog with exercise, fresh air, and social
interaction. Pets can give
companionship to people who are living
alone or elderly adults who do not have
adequate social interaction with other
people. There is a medically approved
class of therapy
animals that are brought to visit
confined humans, such as children
in hospitals or elders in nursing
homes. Pet therapy utilizes trained
animals and handlers to achieve specific
physical, social, cognitive, or
emotional goals with patients.
People most commonly get
pets for companionship, to protect a
home or property, or because of the
perceived beauty or attractiveness of
the animals.[2] A 1994 Canadian study
found that the most common reasons for
not owning a pet were lack of ability to
care for the pet when traveling (34.6%),
lack of time (28.6%), and lack of
suitable housing (28.3%), with dislike
of pets being less common
(19.6%).[2] Some scholars, ethicists,
and animal rights organizations have
raised concerns over keeping pets
because of the lack of autonomy and the
objectification of non-human animals.[3]
Pet popularity
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.[4] There are a total of
755 million pets, increased from 389
million in 2013.[5]
According
to a survey promoted by Italian family
associations in 2009, it is estimated
that there are approximately 45 million
pets in Italy. This includes 7 million
dogs, 7.5 million cats, 16 million fish,
12 million birds, and 10 million
snakes.[6]
A 2007
survey by the University of
Bristol found that 26% of UK households
owned cats and 31% owned dogs,
estimating total domestic populations of
approximately 10.3 million cats and 10.5
million dogs in 2006.[7] The survey also
found that 47.2% of households with a
cat had at least one person educated to
degree level, compared with 38.4% of
homes with dogs.[8]
There are
approximately 86.4 million pet cats and
approximately 78.2 million pet dogs in
the United States,[9][10] and a United
States 2007–2008 survey showed that
dog-owning households outnumbered those
owning cats, but that the total number
of pet cats was higher than that of
dogs. The same was true for 2011.[11] In
2013, pets outnumbered children four to
one in the United States.[12]
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