Discuss: What’s the Use of Pets?
The pet industry behaves as if pets are the new kids in America. Is this a good thing? What does a healthy relationship with pets look like? What about an unhealthy one? What does a healthy relationship with animals in general entail? Is our relationship with pets a symptom of some larger malady? Or is it all to the good?
22 comments
17 Martin Mudd on Nov 15, 2007
18 L Hinton on Jan 10, 2008
At 46, I’ve remained childless by choice and have been grateful for every single moment I’ve shared with my dog. I cannot describe this human/animal bond, as it surpasses my own understanding. I only know that there are quite a few individuals who will never experience it, either because they do not need it, or perhaps do not want it. In sharing my life with my pet, I’ve found everything I could ever want for and everything I will ever need. I am able to give love unconditionally, and always seem to receive more than I give. What could be more beautiful than that? Am I a pet-owner, parent, master . . . no . . I’m just hers and she is mine . . . it’s just that simple. Devotion doesn’t require a set language,title, or even social acceptance. It just takes two very compatible souls, and although one soul lives a much shorter life than the other, it is still worth taking that journey through life together.
19 Joshua on Jul 21, 2008
Whats a better life, let the dogs starve on the street, or let them live with people? I vote the second.
20 mike thompson on Nov 12, 2008
my only experience is with Hunting dogs in the Wild….the delight is theyre out evolving hominids…Could it that the US is now waking up to being the largest bio hazzard on the planet.At Last!
21 Christophe Thill on Oct 16, 2009
This is a great article. But I was shocked by this:
“But when I tell Daphna that Americans will spend more than $40 billion on their pets this year, she is agog. It takes her a moment to express what dismays her about it.
“For the three to four million who are killed every year, that doesn’t mean a thing,” she declares.”
If this isn’t hypocrisy, I don’t know what is. According to its own report, in 2008 PETA killed 95% of the cats and dogs in its care. That’s more than 2,000. Their total score is more than 20,000 since 1998.
22 Steve on Jan 28, 2010
hi Ginger,
I love the picture of the bull dog kicking it on the sofa. LOL.
I didn’t really understand the “mystery” of pets until I married my wife and, thus, her cat as well. I never realized how one can bound with an animal (I am speaking of out cat, of course).
You are absolutely right that we really can’t talk to our pets, and thus they are a mystery… but what a wonderful mystery!
Thanks for a great article. Steve
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a man kills a cat to save the birds:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/14/us/14cats.html?ex=1195794000&en;=b26f224f08315fb3&ei;=5070
like it or not, this guy has a point…