Pets

Apet is not just an ordinary animal; it is an animal conceived, bought, and given a home for the joy of humans. For instance, a white pet mouse in a cage may delight a child, while at the same time unwanted mice running somewhere in the house are a nuisance. Popular pets are dogs, cats, small birds, hamsters, reptiles, fish, and rabbits. Pets can be considered a sociological phenomenon, particularly in places like the United States, where more than half of all households own at least one pet. There are more than 60 million pet dogs and nearly 70 million pet cats in the [Page 1364]United States according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Pet ownership can contribute to human health and well-being. Researchers who studied ...