PETS

PETS
Name	PETS
Status	Domesticated
Diet	Varies by species
Lifespan	Varies by species

PETS are animals kept primarily for companionship, service, or ornamental purposes rather than for production of food, labor, or research. They encompass a wide range of species kept in private homes, public institutions, and specialty facilities, influencing human lives through social, psychological, and economic interactions. Practices associated with keeping pets intersect with animal welfare movements, veterinary medicine, municipal regulation, and cultural expression across societies.

Overview

The practice of keeping companion animals links to institutions such as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, American Veterinary Medical Association, World Organisation for Animal Health, Society for Companion Animal Studies, and Humane Society International, and is shaped by municipal codes in cities like New York City, London, Tokyo, Paris, and Mumbai. Companion species often require services provided by professionals trained at organizations like the Royal Veterinary College, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sydney Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, and University of Edinburgh Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. Market dynamics involve corporations such as Mars, Incorporated, Nestlé, Chewy, Inc., Petco Health and Wellness Company, and PetSmart, as well as non-profit rescue networks like Best Friends Animal Society and The Humane League.

History of Domestication

Archaeological and genetic research connects early domestication events to cultures and places including the Natufian culture, Neolithic Revolution, Near East, East Asia, Ancient Egypt, Roman Empire, and Indus Valley Civilization. Studies published in journals and produced by teams at institutions such as University of Oxford, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Smithsonian Institution, Natural History Museum, London, and Kühlmann Archaeological Institute trace domestication of species in contexts like the Younger Dryas, Bronze Age, Iron Age, and migrations tied to the Silk Road. Selective breeding and human-mediated selection produced lineages examined by researchers at Salk Institute, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Harvard University, University of Cambridge, and Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Types and Breeds

Common companion taxa include canids, felids, psittacines, rodents, lagomorphs, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and arthropods, with breed registries and standards maintained by bodies such as the American Kennel Club, The Kennel Club (UK), Cat Fanciers' Association, International Cat Association, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (New Zealand), and specialty groups tied to exhibitions like the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Breed development and taxonomy intersect with studies from the American Museum of Natural History, Natural History Museum, Los Angeles County, Royal Ontario Museum, Smithsonian National Zoo, and conservation programs run by the World Wildlife Fund and IUCN. Notable pedigree lines and varieties emerge in settings such as Victorian era Britain, Meiji Japan, Ottoman Empire, Mughal Empire, and modern breeding operations in Germany, Netherlands, and United States.

Care and Welfare

Standards for nutrition, preventative medicine, and behavioral enrichment are informed by guidance from American Animal Hospital Association, World Small Animal Veterinary Association, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, European College of Veterinary Public Health, and research centers at Johns Hopkins University, Mayo Clinic, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, and Monash University. Public health intersections involve authorities like Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, Public Health England, Food and Agriculture Organization, and local public health departments in metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles County, Greater London Authority, and Shanghai Municipal Health Commission. Welfare campaigns and legal frameworks are advocated by groups including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, RSPCA Australia, Compassion in World Farming, and regional animal control agencies.

Human–Animal Bond and Benefits

Research into psychological and physiological effects of companion animals is carried out at universities and hospitals including University of Pennsylvania, University of Virginia, Harvard Medical School, Mayo Clinic, and University of California, Los Angeles, and informs programs in institutions like Veterans Affairs hospitals, Children's hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and educational settings such as Montessori schools and special education programs. Therapeutic uses include partnerships with organizations such as Pet Partners, Therapy Dogs International, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Cleveland Clinic, and community initiatives in municipalities like Chicago, Toronto, and Berlin.

Legal and Ethical Issues

Regulation and policy are shaped by statutes, case law, and administrative agencies including national parliaments and legislatures such as the United States Congress, Parliament of the United Kingdom, European Parliament, Supreme Court of the United States, and courts in jurisdictions like India, Brazil, and South Africa. Key legal topics involve animal cruelty statutes, liability in tort cases heard in courts such as the United States Court of Appeals, municipal licensing ordinances in cities like San Francisco and Barcelona, wildlife trade restrictions under treaties like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and biosecurity measures driven by agencies including Interpol and Europol.

Cultural Representations and Media

Companion animals appear prominently in literature, film, television, visual arts, and digital media produced by entities such as the BBC, BBC Radio, Netflix, Walt Disney Studios, Sony Pictures Entertainment, The New Yorker, National Geographic, The Guardian, and The New York Times. Iconic portrayals occur in works by authors and creators associated with A. A. Milne, Charles Dickens, Ernest Hemingway, Beatrix Potter, Hayao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli, Walt Disney, Akira Kurosawa, and contemporary series aired on networks like HBO and Channel 4. Cultural festivals, exhibitions, and competitions involving companion animals are hosted by institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, Victoria and Albert Museum, E3 Expo, Sundance Film Festival, and local fairs in regions including Catalonia, Bavaria, and Sichuan.

Category:Animals kept by humans