What purpose do pets serve?

[Texashiker]

The thread about cats got me to thinking, what purpose do pets serve?

Some people keep pets for companionship, others for protection (such as big dogs), cats catch mice, then there is the entertainment value such as mice and hamsters and disabled people have service animals.

When a pet gets old and requires medical care, or special treatment, do we "owe" anything to the pet? Wouldn't it be cheaper and more humane to put the animal down then to take care of it? Or do our feelings of attachment get in the way of making the best logical decision?

The last dog I had was in 1987. I did not get the puppy his parvo vaccine and the dog died when he was maybe 4 months old. Here is it 25 years after Bear died, I still have feelings of guilty for not taking better care of my pet and do not want another dog.

A couple of months ago my wife and I got some chickens. They have a secure coop they are kept in so no predators can harm them. The chickens serve a purpose, and that is eggs.

 

[Oil]

When a person gets old and requires medical care, or special treatment, do we "owe" anything to the person? Wouldn't it be cheaper and more humane to put the human down then to take care of it? Or do our feelings of attachment get in the way of making the best logical decision?

 

[LookBehindYou]

They serve as a great way to cleanup peanut butter when it gets on...your...self?

 

[KB]

I would say companionship is probably the dominant reason. Pets, particularly dogs and cats, can help reduce depression and loneliness. This translates into a better and longer life. The act of petting a dog or cat has been proven to lower blood pressure.

 

[waffleironhead]

They are there so your grandkids can feed them pizza.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2195006.html

 

[SillyOReilly]

LOL what purpose do you serve?

 

[Texashiker]

LOL what purpose do you serve?

What purpose does humanity serve?

 

[LookBehindYou]

What purpose does humanity serve?

To purposely serve?

 

[SillyOReilly]

What purpose does humanity serve?

You're the one with the thread postulating what anything serves.

Are you really that simple?

 

[OutHouse]

They serve as a great way to cleanup peanut butter when it gets on...your...self?

fess up. you glob it between your toes and let the dog lick it dont you...

 

[LookBehindYou]

fess up. you glob it between your toes and let the dog lick it dont you...

Yeah, toes...that's it, toes.

 

[Texashiker]

Are you really that simple?

Are you incapable of abstract thought?

 

[rh71]

companionship... when my parents ended up with an empty nest, the dog we had as a family kept them busy. But pets are a lot of work - it really depends on your love for them. I used to love that dog so much but then I had kids and came to realize how they are in no way comparable. I don't want to feel that way but I just do - I barely pay attention to the dog anymore when I see him. Personally I would never really want to take care of a dog either. Cleaning up crap and walking it - just not for me. If we were unable to have kids, I'd probably think completely differently.

 

[TheSlamma]

I think you listed one of the most important reasons in your OP.. Companionship.

from a bumper sticker:

A dog is truly a man's best friend. If you don't believe it, just try this experiment. Put your dog and your wife in the trunk of the car for an hour. When you open the trunk, who is really happy to see you?

 

[shortylickens]

They give the same emotional fulfillment as another human, but not the intellectual. They are important and for some people, essential.

 

[natto fire]

I suspect by the end of this thread, they will serve the purpose of dividing people over which pet is best, baseless accusations, and general trolling.

 

[unokitty]

For most of history, animals have existed in an agricultural environment. That is, you might have a herding dog or you might have cats that keep the vermin out of the barn. But you wouldn't have them in your house.

In particular, middle class ownership of pets is a relatively recent phenomenon. For example, canned dog food didn't exist until after WWI and cat litter wasn't invented until 1947. Not to mention that earlier economic conditions didn't allow most people to have sufficient funds for animal care.

Even more recently there are signs of a new academic discipline developing called "Canine Science." Among other things, this disciple studies the relationship between humans and animals as well as the use of therapy and other types of dogs.

While they are not pets, the use of working dogs continues to grow. For example, the USAF operates the largest dog training facility in the world.

Despite spending millions and millions of dollars, the US Military has discovered that technology can not replace a mine or scout dog. In fact,there are more dogs serving in the US Military than ever before.

Uno
Honored to have been a US Army Sentry Dog Handler

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

companionship... when my parents ended up with an empty nest, the dog we had as a family kept them busy. But pets are a lot of work - it really depends on your love for them. I used to love that dog so much but then I had kids and came to realize how they are in no way comparable. I don't want to feel that way but I just do - I barely pay attention to the dog anymore when I see him. Personally I would never really want to take care of a dog either. Cleaning up crap and walking it - just not for me. If we were unable to have kids, I'd probably think completely differently.

I don't want to take care of kids. A dog is perfect for me. No babysitter no diapers. They just need food water and a little love.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Fuzzy kitten hugs!

REDDOTREDDOTREDDOTREDDOTREDDOTREDDOTREDDOTREDDOTREDDOTREDDOTREDDOT!!!!!!!

RED MOTHERFUCKING DOT!!

Relax, you stupid human. Here's how.

 

[SillyOReilly]

Are you incapable of abstract thought?

Oh wow, you're so deep.

Tell me more. :wub:

 

[AstroManLuca]

I think I heard of a study that showed pet owners generally have lower blood pressure and are happier.

 

[preslove]

My corgi shits on this thread

 

[Ninjahedge]

Humans are pack animals.

We also like to think of ourselves as above something, better than something.

So I see people with pets, "providing" for them because they have enough resources that they CAN (a comfort right there), and feeling appreciated.

I see people, especially elderly, immigrants, or menial workers, feeding squirrels and pigeons quite often. Pigeons. Rats with wings. Poop machines.

It makes them feel better.

The place you do NOT see pets are in areas where you have to decide whether you eat or they eat. In some countries, you eat them. Sounds "mean", but that is "life". We just seem to forget about it while we post online about what we saw or heard on TV or through "the tubes".

 

[Ninjahedge]

My corgi shits on this thread

Ein?

 

[Capt Caveman]

The thread about cats got me to thinking, what purpose do pets serve?

Some people keep pets for companionship, others for protection (such as big dogs), cats catch mice, then there is the entertainment value such as mice and hamsters and disabled people have service animals.

When a pet gets old and requires medical care, or special treatment, do we "owe" anything to the pet? Wouldn't it be cheaper and more humane to put the animal down then to take care of it? Or do our feelings of attachment get in the way of making the best logical decision?

The last dog I had was in 1987. I did not get the puppy his parvo vaccine and the dog died when he was maybe 4 months old. Here is it 25 years after Bear died, I still have feelings of guilty for not taking better care of my pet and do not want another dog.

A couple of months ago my wife and I got some chickens. They have a secure coop they are kept in so no predators can harm them. The chickens serve a purpose, and that is eggs.

Too friggin cheap to spend $20 on a parvo shot. Poor puppy.