63-649: [REDACTED] Look up pets , petted , or petting in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. PETS or Pets may refer to: Arts and entertainment [ edit ] Film and television [ edit ] Pets (film) , a 1974 film Pets (2002 film) , directed by David Lister "Pets", an episode of the television series Zoboomafoo Music [ edit ] The Pets (1950s band) The Pets (2000s band) "Pets" (song) , by Porno For Pyros Video games [ edit ] The Sims 2: Pets ,
126-943: A draught or draft animals . Others may be used as pack animals , for animal-powered transport , the movement of people and goods. Together, these are sometimes called beasts of burden . Some animals are ridden by people on their backs and are known as mounts . Alternatively, one or more animals in harness may be used to pull vehicles. Riding animals are animals that people use as mounts in order to perform tasks such as traversing across long distances or over rugged terrain, hunting on horseback or with some other riding animal, patrolling around rural and/or wilderness areas, rounding up and/or herding livestock or even for recreational enjoyment. They mainly include equines such as horses , donkeys , and mules ; bovines such as cattle , water buffalo , and yak . In some places, elephants , llamas and camels are also used. Dromedary camels are in arid areas of Australia, North Africa and
189-464: A treadmill and have been used throughout history to power a winch to raise water from a well. Turnspit dogs were formerly used to power roasting jacks for roasting meat. Working as a form of biological treatment for the environment. Animals such as Asian carps were imported to the U.S. in 1970s to control algae, weed, and parasite growth in aquatic farms, weeds in canal systems, and as one form of sewage treatment . Animals can be used to detect
252-413: A "distinct legal persona with corresponding rights, duties, and liabilities of a living person" and humans are "loco parentis" while laying out the norms for animal welfare, veterinary treatment, fodder and shelter, e.g. animal drawn carriages must not have more than four humans, and load carrying animals must not be loaded beyond the specified limits and those limits must be halved when animals have to carry
315-515: A cat had at least one person educated to degree level, compared with 38.4% of homes with dogs. There are approximately 86.4 million pet cats and approximately 78.2 million pet dogs in the United States, and a United States 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 2011. In 2013, pets outnumbered children four to one in
378-468: A defunct dot-com enterprise that sold pet supplies Positron emission tomography scan , a medical imaging technique Public English Test System , a language test used in Mainland China Public expenditure tracking system See also [ edit ] PET (disambiguation) Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with
441-461: A deliberate choice not to drink or use drugs, and to avoid contact with substance abusers or those involved in any criminal activity for fear of being separated from their pet. Additionally, many refuse to house in shelters if their pet is not allowed to stay with them. Health risks that are associated with pets include: The European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals is a 1987 treaty of
504-457: A demand for animal goods such as accessories and guides for pet keeping. Pet care developed into a big business by the end of the nineteenth century. Profiteers also sought out pet stealing as a means for economic gain. Utilizing the affection that owners had for their pets, professional dog stealers would capture animals and hold them for ransom. The development of dog stealing reflects the increased value of pets. Pets gradually became defined as
567-572: A dog named Bella. Working animal A working animal is an animal, usually domesticated , that is kept by humans and trained to perform tasks instead of being slaughtered to harvest animal products . Some are used for their physical strength (e.g. oxen and draft horses ) or for transportation (e.g. riding horses and camels ), while others are service animals trained to execute certain specialized tasks (e.g. hunting and guide dogs , messenger pigeons , and fishing cormorants ). They may also be used for milking or herding . Some, at
630-400: A fundamental change in behavior to facilitate a close co-existence with humans. Some species may have been bred in captivity for a considerable length of time, but are still not recognized as domesticated . Generally, wild animals are recognized as not suitable to keep as pets, and this practice is completely banned in many places. In other areas, certain species are allowed to be kept, and it
693-404: 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. It is widely believed among the public, and among many scientists, that pets probably bring mental and physical health benefits to their owners; a 1987 NIH statement cautiously argued that existing data
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#1732851257730756-406: A pet may also help people achieve health goals, such as lowered blood pressure, or mental goals, such as decreased stress. 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. Having pet(s)
819-512: A requirement for having a pet, and not a result. 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. People residing in a long-term care facility, such as a hospice or nursing home, may 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
882-479: Is police dogs and military dogs , which are often afforded additional protections and the same memorial services as human officers and soldiers. India law have provision for the in loco parentis for implementing animal welfare laws. Under the Indian law the non-human entities such as animals, deities, trusts, charitable organizations, corporate, managing bodies, etc. and several other non-human entitles have been given
945-536: Is smell , hence such dogs are also commonly known as 'sniffer dogs'. For this task, dogs may sometimes be used remotely from the suspect item, for example via the Remote Air Sampling for Canine Olfaction (RASCO) system. The defensive and offensive capabilities of animals (such as fangs and claws) can be used to protect or to attack humans. In some jurisdictions, certain working animals are afforded greater legal rights than other animals. One such common example
1008-426: Is a medically approved class of therapy animals that are brought to visit confined humans, such as children in hospitals or elders in nursing homes . Pet therapy utilizes trained animals and handlers to achieve specific physical, social, cognitive, or emotional goals with patients. People most commonly get pets for companionship, to protect a home or property, or because of the perceived beauty or attractiveness of
1071-413: Is an animal kept primarily for a person's company or entertainment rather than as a working animal , livestock , or a laboratory animal . Popular pets are often considered to have attractive/ cute appearances, intelligence , and relatable personalities, but some pets may be taken in on an altruistic basis (such as a stray animal) and accepted by the owner regardless of these characteristics. Two of
1134-807: Is as draft animals, harnessed singly or in teams , to pull sleds , wheeled vehicles or ploughs . Assorted wild animals have, on occasion, been tamed and trained to harness, including zebras and even moose . As some domesticated animals display extremely protective or territorial behavior, certain breeds and species have been utilized to guard people and/or property such as homes , public buildings , businesses , crops , livestock and even venues of criminal activity . Guard animals can either act as alarms to alert their owners of danger or they can be used to actively scare off and/or even attack encroaching intruders or dangerous animals. Well known examples of guard animals include dogs , geese and llamas . Working draught animals may power fixed machinery using
1197-541: Is estimated that there are approximately 45 million pets in Italy. This includes 7 million dogs, 7.5 million cats, 16 million fish, 12 million birds, and 10 million snakes. 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. The survey also found that 47.2% of households with
1260-525: Is illegal in the Netherlands for owners to kill their own cats and dogs kept as pets. Parakeets, guinea pigs, hamsters and other animals may still be killed by their owners, but nonetheless when owners mistreat their companion animals (for example, in the process of killing them), the owners can still be prosecuted under Dutch law. Pets have a considerable environmental impact, especially in countries where they are common or held in high densities. For instance,
1323-406: Is illegal. There is a market for illegal pets. Domesticated pets are the most common. A domesticated animal is a species that has been made fit for a human environment, by being consistently kept in captivity and selectively bred over a long enough period of time that it exhibits marked differences in behavior and appearance from its wild relatives. Domestication contrasts with taming , which
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#17328512577301386-864: Is often missing in an elder's life. 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. Appropriate pets go through a screening process and, if it is a dog, additional training programs to become a therapy dog . 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. Different pets require varying amounts of attention and care; for example, cats may have lower maintenance requirements than dogs. In addition to providing health benefits for their owners, pets also impact
1449-673: Is responsible for the release of up to 64 ± 16 million tons CO 2 -equivalent methane and nitrous oxide , two powerful greenhouse gasses . Americans are the largest pet owners in the world, but pet ownership in the US has considerable environmental costs. 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 animal, notably monkeys , have never been domesticated but are still sold and kept as pets. Some wild animals are kept as pets, such as tigers, even though this
1512-440: Is significant as Egyptians considered names to have magical properties. Throughout the 17th and 18th-century pet keeping in the modern sense gradually became accepted throughout Britain . Initially, aristocrats kept dogs for both companionship and hunting. Thus, pet keeping was a sign of elitism within society. By the 19th century, the rise of the middle class stimulated the development of pet keeping and it became inscribed within
1575-576: Is simply when an un-domesticated, wild animal has become tolerant of human presence, and perhaps even enjoys it. Large mammals that might be kept as pets include alpaca , camel , cattle , donkey , goat , horse , llama , pig , and sheep . Small mammals that might be kept as pets include: ferret , hedgehog , rabbit , sugar glider , and rodents , including rat , mouse , hamster , guinea pig , gerbil , and chinchilla . Other mammals include cat , dog , monkey , and domesticated silver fox . Birds kept as pets include companion parrots like
1638-498: Is usually required for the owner to obtain a permit. It is considered animal cruelty by some, as most often, wild animals require precise and constant care that is very difficult to meet in captive conditions. Many large and instinctively aggressive animals are extremely dangerous, and numerous times have they killed their handlers. Archaeology suggests that human ownership of dogs as pets may date back to at least 12,000 years ago. Ancient Greeks and Romans would openly grieve for
1701-492: The Council of Europe – but accession to the treaty is open to all states in the world – to promote the welfare of pet animals and ensure minimum standards for their treatment and protection. It went into effect on 1 May 1992, and as of June 2020, it has been ratified by 24 states. Pets have commonly been considered private property , owned by individual persons . Many legal protections have existed (historically and today) with
1764-524: The Netherlands , the government publishes white lists and black lists (called 'positive' and 'negative lists') with animal species that are designated to be appropriate to be kept as pets (positive) or not (negative). The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy originally established its first positive list ( positieflijst ) per 1 February 2015 for a set of 100 mammals (including cats, dogs and production animals ) deemed appropriate as pets on
1827-642: The armadillo , the sloth , the European hare , and the wild boar . In January 2011, the Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain stated that people are not allowed to kill miscellaneous or unknown cats walking in their garden, but "nowhere in the law does it say that you can't eat your cat, dog, rabbit, fish or whatever. You just have to kill them in an animal-friendly way." Since 1 July 2014, it
1890-505: The bourgeois culture. As the popularity of pet-keeping in the modern sense rose during the Victorian era , animals became a fixture within urban culture as commodities and decorative objects. Pet keeping generated a commercial opportunity for entrepreneurs. By the mid-19th century, nearly twenty thousand street vendors in London dealt with live animals. The popularity of animals also developed
1953-680: The budgie and cockatiel , fowl such as chickens , turkeys , ducks , geese , and quail , columbines , and passerines , namely finches and canaries . Fish kept as pets include: goldfish , koi , Siamese fighting fish ( Betta ), barb , guppy , molly , Japanese rice fish (Medaka), and oscar . Arthropods kept as pets include bees , such as honey bees and stingless bees , Silk moth , and ant farms . Reptiles and amphibians kept as pets include snakes , turtles , axolotl , frogs and salamanders . Wild animals are kept as pets. The term wild in this context specifically applies to any species of animal which has not undergone
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2016-403: The equine and bovine group include the largest companion animals. Pets provide their owners, or guardians, both physical and emotional benefits. Walking a dog can provide both the human and the dog with exercise, fresh air, and social interaction . Pets can give companionship to people who are living alone or elderly adults who do not have adequate social interaction with other people. There
2079-455: The 163 million dogs and cats kept in the United States consume about 20% of the amount of dietary energy that humans do and an estimated 33% of the animal-derived energy. They produce about 30% ± 13%, by mass, as much feces as Americans, and through their diet, constitute about 25–30% of the environmental impacts from animal production in terms of the use of land, water, fossil fuel, phosphate, and biocides. Dog and cat animal product consumption
2142-610: The Middle East; the less common Bactrian camel inhabits central and East Asia; both are used as working animals. On occasion, reindeer , though usually driven, may be ridden. Certain wild animals have been tamed and used for riding, usually for novelty purposes, including the zebra and the ostrich . Some mythical creatures are believed to act as divine mounts, such as garuda in Hinduism (See vahana for divine mounts in Hinduism) and
2205-845: The United States. Keeping animals as pets may be detrimental to their health if certain requirements are not met. An important issue is inappropriate feeding, which may produce clinical effects. The consumption of chocolate or grapes by dogs, for example, may prove fatal. 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, and poinsettias , begonia , and aloe vera , which are mildly toxic to dogs. For birds, chocolate can be deadly, and foods intended for human consumption, such as bread, crackers, and dairy items, can potentially cause health problems. Housepets, particularly dogs and cats in industrialized societies, are highly susceptible to obesity . Overweight pets have been shown to be at
2268-985: The ability to associate with the upper-class through ownership of their pets. The ability to care for a pet signified respectability and the capability to be self-sufficient. According to Harriet Ritvo, the identification of "elite animal and elite owner was not a confirmation of the owner's status but a way of redefining it." The popularity of dog and pet keeping generated animal fancy . Dog fanciers showed enthusiasm for owning pets, breeding dogs, and showing dogs in various shows. The first dog show took place on 28 June 1859 in Newcastle and focused mostly on sporting and hunting dogs. However, pet owners produced an eagerness to demonstrate their pets as well as have an outlet to compete. Thus, pet animals gradually were included within dog shows. The first large show, which would host one thousand entries, took place in Chelsea in 1863. The Kennel Club
2331-404: The animals. A 1994 Canadian study found that the most common reasons for not owning a pet were lack of ability to care for the pet when traveling (34.6%), lack of time (28.6%), and lack of suitable housing (28.3%), with dislike of pets being less common (19.6%). Some scholars , ethicists , and animal rights organizations have raised concerns over keeping pets because of the lack of autonomy and
2394-454: The end of their working lives, may also be used for meat or leather . The history of working animals may predate agriculture as dogs were used by hunter-gatherer ancestors; around the world, millions of animals work in relationship with their owners. Domesticated species are often bred for different uses and conditions, especially horses and working dogs . Working animals are usually raised on farms , though some are still captured from
2457-411: The evolved mechanisms responsible for human empathy and theory of mind to cover non-human animals which has not sufficiently impacted its evolutionary advantage in the long run. Animals in captivity , with the help of caretakers, have been considered to have owned pets. Examples of this include Koko the gorilla who had several pet cats, Tonda the orangutan and a pet cat and Tarra the elephant and
2520-418: The form of pet-keeping, was maladaptive , due to being biologically costly, or whether it was positively selected for. Two studies suggest that the human ability to domesticate and keep pets came from the same fundamental evolutionary trait and that this trait provided a material benefit in the form of domestication that was sufficiently adaptive to be positively selected for. A 2011 study suggests that
2583-517: The fourth expansion pack of The Sims 2 The Sims 3: Pets , the fifth expansion pack for The Sims 3 Law and government [ edit ] Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), allowing animals to be moved between countries without quarantine, using a pet passport Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act Other uses [ edit ] Perth Electric Tramway Society , a heritage tramway operator in Perth, Western Australia Pets.com ,
PETS - Misplaced Pages Continue
2646-523: The human species. Anthropomorphism , or the projection of human feelings, thoughts and attributes on to animals, is a defining feature of human pet-keeping. The study identifies it as the same trait in evolution responsible for domestication and concern for animal welfare . It is estimated to have arisen at least 100,000 years before present (ybp) in Homo sapiens . It is debated whether this redirection of human nurturing behaviour towards non-human animals, in
2709-830: The intention of safeguarding pets' and other animals' well-being. 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 . States, cities, and towns in Western countries commonly enact local ordinances to limit
2772-433: The issue would be costly or infeasible. 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. Animal company can also help people to preserve acceptable levels of happiness despite the presence of mood symptoms like anxiety or depression. Having
2835-576: The load up a slope. A court while deciding the Animal Welfare Board of India vs Nagaraja case in 2014 mandated that animals are also entitled to the fundamental right to freedom enshrined in the Article 21 of Constitution of India i.e. right to life, personal liberty and the right to die with dignity ( passive euthanasia ). In another case, a court in Uttarakhand state mandated that animals have
2898-460: The loss of a dog, evidenced by inscriptions left on tombstones commemorating their loss. The surviving epitaphs dedicated to horses are more likely to reference a gratitude for the companionship that had come from war horses rather than race horses. The latter may have chiefly been commemorated as a way to further the owner's fame and glory. In Ancient Egypt , dogs and baboons were kept as pets and buried with their owners. Dogs were given names, which
2961-545: The most popular pets are dogs and cats . Other animals commonly kept include rabbits ; ferrets ; pigs ; rodents such as gerbils , hamsters , chinchillas , rats , mice , and guinea pigs ; birds such as parrots , passerines , and fowls ; reptiles such as turtles , lizards , snakes , and iguanas ; aquatic pets such as fish , freshwater snails , and saltwater snails; amphibians such as frogs and salamanders ; and arthropod pets such as tarantulas and hermit crabs . Smaller pets include rodents , while
3024-569: 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. In Belgium and
3087-441: The objectification of non-human animals. In China, spending on domestic animals has grown from an estimated $ 3.12 billion in 2010 to $ 25 billion in 2018. The Chinese people own 51 million dogs and 41 million cats, with pet owners often preferring to source pet food internationally. There are a total of 755 million pets, increased from 389 million in 2013. According to a survey promoted by Italian family associations in 2009, it
3150-405: The practical functions that some pets provide, such as assisting hunting or removing pests , could have resulted in enough evolutionary advantage to allow for the persistence of this behaviour in humans and outweigh the economic burden held by pets kept as playthings for immediate emotional rewards. Two other studies suggest that the behaviour constitutes an error, side effect or misapplication of
3213-697: The presence of pathogens and patients carrying infectious diseases. Dogs and pigs, with a better sense of smell than humans, can assist with gathering by finding valuable products, such as truffles (a very expensive subterranean fungus). The French typically use truffle hogs , while Italians mainly use dogs. Monkeys are trained to pick coconuts from palm trees, a job many human workers consider as too dangerous. Detection dogs , commonly employed by law enforcement authorities, are trained to use their senses to detect illegal drugs , explosives , currency, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones, among other things. The sense most used by detection dogs
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#17328512577303276-492: The property of their owners. Laws were created that punished offenders for their burglary. Pets and animals also had social and cultural implications throughout the nineteenth century. The categorization of dogs by their breeds reflected the hierarchical, social order of the Victorian era. The pedigree of a dog represented the high status and lineage of their owners and reinforced social stratification. Middle-class owners valued
3339-458: The recommendations of Wageningen University . Parliamentary debates about such a pet list date back to the 1980s, with continuous disagreements about which species should be included and how the law should be enforced. In January 2017, the white list was expanded to 123 species, while the black list that had been set up was expanded (with animals like the brown bear and two great kangaroo species) to contain 153 species unfit for petting, such as
3402-536: The social lives of their owners and their connection to their community. There is some evidence that pets can facilitate social interaction. Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Colorado at Boulder, Leslie Irvine has focused her attention on pets of the homeless population. Her studies of pet ownership among the homeless found that many modify their life activities for fear of losing their pets. Pet ownership prompts them to act responsibly, with many making
3465-546: The status of the " legal person " with legal rights and duties, such as to sue and be sued, to own and transfer the property, to pay taxes, etc. In court cases regarding animals, the animals have the status of "legal person" and humans have the legal duty to act as "loco parentis" towards animals welfare like a parent has towards the minor children. In a case of cow-smuggling , the Punjab and Haryana High Court mandated that "entire animal kingdom including avian and aquatic" species has
3528-463: The title PETS . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=PETS&oldid=1170986701 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages pets A pet , or companion animal ,
3591-694: The trustworthiness and mild temper of true domesticated working animals. Conversely, not all domesticated animals are working animals. For example, while cats may catch mice, it is an instinctive behavior, not one that can be trained by human intervention. Other domesticated animals, such as sheep or rabbits, may have agricultural uses for meat, hides and wool , but are not suitable for work. Finally, small domestic pets, such as most small birds (other than certain types of pigeon ) are generally incapable of performing work other than providing companionship. Some animals are used due to sheer physical strength in tasks such as ploughing or logging. Such animals are grouped as
3654-804: The wild, such as dolphins and some Asian elephants . People have found uses for a wide variety of abilities in animals, and even industrialized societies use many animals for work. People use the strength of horses, elephants, and oxen to pull carts and move loads. Police forces use dogs for finding illegal substances and assisting in apprehending wanted persons, others use dogs to find game or search for missing or trapped people. People use various animals— camels , donkeys , horses, dogs, etc.—for transport, either for riding or to pull wagons and sleds. Other animals, including dogs and monkeys , help disabled people. On rare occasions, wild animals are not only tamed, but trained to perform work—though often solely for novelty or entertainment, as such animals tend to lack
3717-633: The winged horse Pegasus in Greek mythology . Pack animals may be of the same species as mounts or harness animals, though animals such as horses , mules , donkeys , reindeer and both types of camel may have individual bloodlines or breeds that have been selectively bred for packing. Additional species are only used to carry loads, including llamas in the Andes . Domesticated cattle and yaks are also used as pack animals. Other species used to carry cargo include dogs and pack goats . An intermediate use
3780-423: Was "suggestive" of a significant benefit. A recent dissent comes from a 2017 RAND study, which found that at least in the case of children, having a pet per se failed to improve physical or mental health by a statistically significant amount; instead, the study found children who were already prone to being healthy were more likely to get pets in the first place. Conducting long-term randomized trials to settle
3843-524: Was created in 1873 to ensure fairness and organization within dog shows. The development of the Stud Book by the Kennel Club defined policies, presented a national registry system of purebred dogs, and essentially institutionalized dog shows. Pet ownership by animals in the wild, as an analogue to the human phenomenon, has not been observed and is likely non-existent in nature. One group of capuchin monkeys
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#17328512577303906-429: Was observed appearing to care for a marmoset , a fellow New World monkey species; however, observations of chimpanzees apparently playing with small animals like hyraxes have ended with the chimpanzees killing the animals and tossing the corpses around. A 2010 study states that human relationships with animals have an exclusive human cognitive component and that pet-keeping is a fundamental and ancient attribute of
3969-468: Was shown to significantly reduce triglycerides, and thus heart disease risk, in the elderly. 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 did not own one. There is some evidence that pets may have a therapeutic effect in dementia cases. Other studies have shown that for the elderly, good health may be
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