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States, cities, and towns in Western nations commonly enact local ordinances to limit the number or kind of pets a person may keep personally or for business purposes. Prohibited pets may be specific to certain breeds (such as pit bulls or Rottweilers), they may apply to general categories of animals (such as livestock, exotic animals, wild animals, and canid or felid hybrids), or they may simply be based on the animal's size. Additional or different maintenance rules and regulations may also apply. Condominium associations and owners of rental properties also commonly limit or forbid tenants' keeping of pets. The keeping of animals as pets can cause concerns with regard to animal rights and welfare.[1][2][3] Pets have commonly been considered private property, owned by individual persons. However, many legal protections have existed (historically and today) with the intention of safeguarding pets' (and other animals') well-being.[4][5][6][7] Since the year 2000, a small but increasing number of jurisdictions in North America have enacted laws redefining pet's owners as guardians. Intentions have been characterized as simply changing attitudes and perceptions (but not legal consequences) to working toward legal personhood for pets themselves. Some veterinarians and breeders have opposed these moves. The question of pets' legal status can arise with concern to purchase or adoption, custody, divorce, estate and inheritance, injury, damage, and veterinary malpractice.[8][9][10][11] Pet popularity A Maine Coon kitten aged ten weeks There are approximately 78.2 million pet dogs in the United States, approximately 86.4 million pet cats in the United States,[12] and 5.3 million house rabbits.[13] The two most popular pets in most Western countries have been cats and dogs. In the United States, a 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 2009–2010.[14] In 2013, pets outnumbered children four to one in the United States.[15] Guinea Pigs Most popular pets in the U.S (millions)[16][17] Pet Global population U.S. population U.S. inhabited households U.S. average per inhabited household Cat 202 93.6 38.2 2.45 Dog 171 77.5 45.6 1.70 Fish N/A 171.7 13.3 12.86 Small mammals N/A 15.9 5.3 3.00 Birds N/A 15.0 6.0 2.50 Reptiles & Amphibians N/A 13.6 4.7 2.89 Equine N/A 13.3 3.9 3.41 A Maltese puppy Choice of a pet For a small to medium-size dog, the total cost over a dog's lifetime is about $7,240 to $12,700.[18] For an indoor cat, the total cost over a cat's lifetime is about $8,620 to $11,275.[19] People most commonly get pets for companionship, to protect a home or property, or because of the beauty or attractiveness of the animals.[20] The most common reasons for not owning a pet are lack of time, lack of suitable housing, and lack of ability to care for the pet when traveling.[20] United States Margaret Gorman with her pet Greyhound in April 1925 According to the 2007-2008 Pet Owners survey:[21] Animal Number of U.S. households that own this kind of pet (millions) Total number of this kind of pet owned in the U.S. (millions) Bird 6.0 15.0 Cat 38.2 93.6 Dog 45.6 79.5 Equine 4.0 13.3 Freshwater fish 13.3 171.7 Saltwater fish 0.7 11.2 Reptile 4.7 13.6 Small pets 5.3 15.9 Canada The latest survey done by Colin Siren of Ipsos Reid estimates that there are 7.9 million cats and 5.9 million dogs in Canada. The survey also shows that 35% of Canadian households have a dog, while 38% have a cat, which is consistent with other surveys conducted around the world.[22] United Kingdom 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.[23] 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.[24] Overpopulation Globe icon. The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with USA and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article and discuss the issue on the talk page. (February 2010) Unbalanced scales.svg The neutrality of this section is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved. (August 2013) Main article: Overpopulation in companion animals Animal protection advocates call attention to pet overpopulation. According to the Humane Society of the United States, animal shelters care for about 6 to 8 million dogs and cats each year, but approximately 3 to 4 million are euthanized.[25] A fertile cat or dog can produce up to two litters per year containing four or more kittens or puppies per litter.[26] Not every pet entering a shelter is a stray. Many pets are surrendered every day because of reasons such as moving, cost, allergies, too many pets, no time for pet, illness, and personal problems.[27] Local humane societies, Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCAs), and other animal protection organizations urge people to spay or neuter their pets, as well as to adopt animals from animal shelters instead of purchasing them from breeders or pet stores. Effects on pets' health Keeping animals as pets may become detrimental to their health if certain requirements are not kept. An important issue is inappropriate feeding, which may produce clinical effects (like the consumption of chocolate by cats and dogs[28]). Certain species of houseplants can also prove toxic if consumed by pets. Examples include philodendrons and Easter lilies (which can cause severe kidney damage to cats)[29][30] and poinsettias, begonia, and aloe vera (which can sicken or, in extreme cases, kill dogs).[31] Housepets, particularly dogs and cats in industrialized societies, are also highly susceptible to obesity. Overweight pets have been shown to be at a higher risk of developing diabetes, liver problems, joint pain, kidney failure, and cancer. Lack of exercise and high-caloric diets are considered to be the primary contributors to pet obesity.[32][33][34] Effects of pets on their caregiver's health Health benefits Pets might have the ability to stimulate their caregivers, in particular the elderly, giving people someone to take care of, someone to exercise with, and someone to help them heal from a physically or psychologically troubled past.[35][36][37] Having a pet may help people achieve health goals, such as lowered blood pressure, or mental goals, such as decreased stress.[38][39][40][41][42][43] There is evidence that having a pet can help a person lead a longer, healthier life. In a 1986 study of 92 people hospitalized for coronary ailments, within a year 11 of the 29 patients without pets had died, compared to only 3 of the 52 patients who had pets.[37] Having pet(s) was shown to significantly reduce triglycerides, and thus heart disease risk, in the elderly.[44] A study by the National Institute of Health found that people who owned dogs were less likely to die as a result of a heart attack than those who didn’t own one.[45] Other studies have shown that for the elderly, good health may be a requirement for having a pet, and not a result.[46] Dogs trained to be guide dogs can help people with vision impairment. Dogs trained in the field of Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) can also benefit people with other disabilities.[35][47] Pets in long-term care institutions People residing in a long-term care facility, such as a hospice or nursing home, experience health benefits from pets. Pets help them to cope with the emotional issues related to their illness. They also offer physical contact with another living creature, something that is often missing in an elder's life.[48] Pets for nursing homes are chosen based on the size of the pet, the amount of care that the breed needs, and the population and size of the care institution.[37] Appropriate pets go through a screening process and, if it is a dog, additional training programs to become a therapy dog.[49] There are three types of therapy dogs: facility therapy dogs, animal-assisted therapy dogs, and therapeutic visitation dogs. The most common therapy dogs are therapeutic visitation dogs. These dogs are household pets whose handlers take time to visit hospitals, nursing homes, detention facilities, and rehabilitation facilities.[36] Different pets require varying amounts of attention and care; for example, cats may have lower maintenance requirements than dogs.[50] Health risks Health risks that are associated with pets include: Aggravation of allergies and asthma caused by dander and fur or feathers Falling injuries. Tripping over pets, especially dogs, causes more than 86,000 falls serious enough to prompt a trip to the emergency room each year in the United States.[51] Among elderly and disabled people, these falls have resulted in life-threatening injuries and broken bones. Injury, mauling, and sometimes death caused by pet bites and attacks Disease and/or parasites due to animal hygiene problems, lack of appropriate treatment, and undisciplined behavior (faeces and urine) Stress caused by behaviour of animals Common types While many people have kept many different species of animals in captivity over the course of human history, only a relative few have been kept long enough to be considered domesticated. Other types of animals, notably monkeys, have never been domesticated but are still commonly sold and kept as pets. There are also inanimate objects that have been kept as "pets", either as a form of game, or humorously (e.g. the pet rock or Chia pet). Domesticated Domesticated pets are the most common types of pet. A domesticated animal is any animal that has been tamed and made fit for a human environment.[52] They have consistently been kept in captivity over a long enough period of time that they exhibit marked differences in behavior and appearance from their wild relatives. Mammals A pet rabbit Alpacas Asses including miniature donkeys Cats Dogs Sheep Horses Goats Elephants Rodents including Fancy rats, Fancy mice, Hamsters, Guinea pigs, and Chinchillas Ferrets Llamas Pigs Rabbits Birds Domestic Canary Chickens Domestic turkeys Domestic ducks and geese Domestic Pigeons and Doves Fish Goldfish Koi Siamese fighting fish Wild The Pasha's Favourite Tiger, oil painting by Rudolph Ernst Wild animals are often kept as pets. The term wild in this context specifically applies to any species of animal which has not undergone a fundamental change in behavior to facilitate a close co-existence with humans. Some species listed here may have been bred in captivity for a considerable length of time, but are still not recognized as domesticated. Exotic mammals Anteaters like southern tamanduas Canidae like arctic foxes, coydogs, dingos, fennec foxes, gray foxes, and wolfdogs Civets like binturongs and genets Deer like leaf muntjacs Duikers Felidae like bobcats, ocelots, margays, and servals Marsupials like opossums, gliding possums, koalas, short-tailed opossums, wallabys, and wombats Mongoose Mustelids like badgers, minks, skunks, and otters Primates like capuchin monkeys, chimpanzees, guenons, lemurs, macaques, marmosets, slow lorises, spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys, sykes' monkeys, tamarins, and vervet monkeys Procyonidae like cacomistles, coatimundi, kinkajous, raccoons, and ringtail cats Rodents like chipmunks, degus, dormouse, flying squirrels, groundhogs, patagonian cavys, pouched rats, and prairie dogs. Sloths such as two-toed sloths and pale-throated three-toed sloths Monotremes such as platypus and echidnas Birds Crows, Ravens, and Magpies Parakeets, Parrots, and other talking birds Toucans Peafowl Birds of Prey Aquatic birds Reptiles Iguanas Lizards, including bearded dragons, leopard geckos, green anoles, blue tongue skinks, monitor lizards, and green iguanas Snakes, including corns, kings, milks, and ball pythons Tortoises Turtles Amphibians Frogs Newts Salamanders Toads Axolotls Fish Angelfish Barb Cichlid Corydoras Danio Discus Gourami Live-bearer Loach Mbuna Plecostomus Rainbowfish Rasbora Tetra Blenny Boxfish Butterflyfish Chromis Clownfish Damsel Goby Tang Triggerfish Wrasse Arthropods The Caribbean hermit crab is one example of a pet arthropod. Ants Centipedes Cockroaches Crabs and Hermit Crabs Millipedes Praying Mantises Stick Insects Sea-Monkeys Triops Tarantulas and other spiders Non-living Digital pets such as Gigapets, Neopets, Tamagotchi, or Nintendogs Pet Rocks Robotic Humanoid robots – robots designed to resemble and interact with humans such as QRIO, ASIMO, and SPYKEE VOX Robotic pets – artificially intelligent robots treated as pets such as AIBO, Genibo, Robopet, and iDog Robotic stuffed animals – robots covered in fur such as Furby and Zhu Zhu Pets Robotic dinosaurs – robots designed to resemble dinosaurs such as Pleo and D-Rex Domestic robots – some people treat domestic robots such as Roomba as pets A pet (or companion animal) is an animal kept primarily for a person's company or protection, as opposed to working animals, sport animals, livestock, and laboratory animals, which are kept primarily for performance, agricultural value, or research. The most popular pets are noted for their attractive appearances and their loyal or playful personalities. Pets commonly provide their owners (or guardians) physical and emotional benefits. Walking a dog can supply both the human and pet with exercise, fresh air, and social interaction. Pets can give companionship to elderly adults who do not have adequate social interaction with other people. There is a medically approved class of therapy animals, mostly dogs, that are brought to visit confined humans. Pet therapy utilizes trained animals and handlers to achieve specific physical, social, cognitive, and emotional goals with patients. The most popular pets are likely dogs and cats, but people also keep house rabbits, ferrets; rodents such as gerbils, hamsters, chinchillas, fancy rats, and guinea pigs; avian pets, such as canaries, parakeets, and parrots; reptile pets, such as turtles, lizards and snakes; aquatic pets, such as tropical fish and frogs; and arthropod pets, such as tarantulas and hermit crabs. Some scholars and animal rights organizations have raised concern over pet-keeping with regards to the autonomy of nonhuman animals. |
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