Pet
From Pets Wiki
A pet is an animal that is kept (mostly by humans) for companionship and enjoyment, as opposed to livestock, which are kept for economic reasons. The most popular are noted for their loyal or playful characteristics or their attractive appearance or song.
The term "pet" may also be applied to humans, usually in an endearing way by a lover, significant other, or partner. Calling another person a pet, though, can just as easily be considered an insult (see "plaything").
While in theory one could keep any animal as a pet, in practice a small number of species of mammals, especially dogs and cats, and other animals such as birds have dominated the pet scene for a very long time. Fish have joined them more recently. Many of these are domesticated while others, are often considered exotic pets such as reptiles.
The glofish, a genetically modified zebrafish with a bright red fluorescent color is the first genetically modified (GM) animal to be engineered as a pet.
Pets can provide their owners with many health benefits. The keeping of pets has been shown to help remove stress. Walking a dog can also provide its owner (as well as the dog!) with exercise, fresh air, and the opportunity for social interaction.
A pet can be acquired from a pet store, an animal shelter, a breeder, and sometimes from people who have too many due to births.
Sometimes people treat their pets like they are children, especially when the people do not have children or their children are grown up.
Some animal welfare organisations have proposed that the term "companion animal" be used instead of "pet".
The captive gorilla Koko is one of few examples of a non-human animal which has had a pet. Koko's first pet was a kitten named All Ball.
Contents |
[edit] Common Pet species
[edit] Mammals
- Horses
- Dogs
- Cats
- Rodents, including hamsters, guinea pigs, mice, gerbils, chinchillas, degus, flying squirrels and rats
- Rabbits
- Ferrets
- Fennecs
- Hedgehogs
- Goats
- Alpacas
- small pigs
- Monkeys
- Donkeys
[edit] Birds
- Budgerigars (parakeets)
- Cockatoos
- Macaws
- other parrot species
- Canaries and other finch species
- Doves
- Cockatiels
- Ducks
[edit] Reptiles
- Tortoises
- Lizards
- Iguanas
- Snakes
- Turtles
- Crocodilians, including alligators, crocodiles, caimans, gavials (can usually only be kept as pets when they are young)
[edit] Amphibians
- Frogs
- Toads
- Salamanders
- Newts
- Caecilian, a wormlike amphibian that lives underground
[edit] Fish
[edit] Arthropods
- Ants
- Crickets
- Tarantulas
- Emperor scorpions
- Millipedes
- Roaches
- Sea Monkeys (a type of brine shrimp)
[edit] Mollusks
[edit] Rocks
- Pet rocks (a type of toy treated as an actual pet)
- Live Rock (Rock with microorganisms and small mullosks within, used in salt water aquariums)
[edit] See also
- Animal hoarder
- Digital pet
- Human-animal bond
- Novelty pet
- Pet from Edgar & Ellen, the book series
- Pet passport
- List of U.S. Presidential pets
[edit] External links
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