During the last summer holiday, when our beautiful niece Janai visited, she watched with great excitement how we adore, care for, and protect our feline and furry friends.
This was a regular occurrence with our closest neighbors who kept parrots as pets and with other neighbors who kept pets of some kind.
She considered how everyone she knew had a pet or liked to have one, including herself, since she had a deep-seated affinity to animals.
It made her ponder the age-long question, “Why do we humans like to have pet animals?”
Her thought-provoking questions and answers would make one wonder if their original intent was to be protectors, companions, or both.
Here are the reasons why humans have a strong affinity for pet animals.
Companionship:
Are you looking for a friend that you can tell and show every aspect of your life without having to be judged or blamed?
Pet animals are the best bet.
Their companionship is unrivalled, never in doubt, and they are always available.
They have provided unconditional love and companionship to millions of people worldwide, to the extent that some humans would rather have pets than human partners or offspring.
This decision by some humans is a testament to their love, trustworthiness, and commitment to the human race.
Protection:
Pet animals, most especially dogs have helped to keep families and societies safe.
They have given their lives for loved ones, proving their undiluted loyalty and commitment to the human race.
Their commitment to the human race has transcended from being family pets to fighting side by side with security operatives around the globe.
They are used to sniff and detect narcotics, apprehend criminals, seal off crime scenes, protect and patrol, and many other hats they wear.
In these roles, they have not only excelled but become the best partners.
Responsibility:
Many people, specifically our niece Janai, learned responsibility through pet ownership.
Through her daily routine of having to feed, provide water, and physical and mental stimulation for her pet dog, she learned how to organize her routine and be more responsible for herself.
She knew she had to feed her pets during certain times of the day, and that taught her time management.
She also learned lifetime commitment which is reflected in almost every area of her life.
For all of this, she was grateful she had a pet dog, and that made her love her dog even more.
Physical Activity:
All relationship with pets is mutual and beneficial but physical activity stands out, especially for dogs and their larger breeds.
Dogs require long walks, running, and playing with toys to be able to keep fit.
Engaging and playing with them during physical exercises such as tug of war, fetch, object throwing, running, and walking in the park benefits them and their human carer.
What animal was the first to be domesticated?
Our love for pet animals started centuries ago when the first pet animal was domesticated in ancient Egypt about 15–40 years ago.
The dog, or Canis lupus familiaris, was the first animal to be domesticated and, consequently, the first pet ever.
They were formed from the selective breeding of wolves that were frequenting human environments to scavenge from human waste without posing any threats to early humans.
The frequent visitation of wolves to human pavement led to a symbiotic relationship.
Humans used wolves for hunting in exchange for giving them unrestricted access to human waste.
Due to their interaction and relationship during hunting and scavenging, wolves were deliberately chosen and bred for specific desirable traits, which resulted in the development of the first dog breed.
Evidence: Archaelogical findings dated back to 15,ooo-40,o00 years ago.
Genetic studies: Common ancestry with wolves