The Wide World Of Pet-keeping

When most of us think of pets, we may call to mind our first puppy, hamster or goldfish. We may think about our latest trip to the pet store, stacked floor to ceiling with items tailored to our pets' every need. Or we may think about the daily routines that we share with our pets, the bookends of each day that are rich with meaning.

While Americans are notorious for the sheer number of pets we keep (and the amount of money we spend to keep them fed, clothed and occupied), the truth is that people in every country share their lives with animals in some form or fashion.

12,000 years of loyalty

The first signs of animal domestication appeared 15,000 years ago when primitive dogs and reindeer became integrated into human settlements. As far back as 12,000 years ago, archeologists have found evidence of domestic dogs being treated not only as valued hunters and guardians, but also as valued companions. Other evidence suggests that the domestication of cats began between 7000 and 4000 B.C. The ancient Egyptians were quite fond of animals in general, and particularly cats, who were considered sacred and linked to particular gods or goddesses. The residents of ancient Greece and Rome were also avid pet-keepers, although pets were often available only to members of the ruling class.

Western excess creates disdain

In this way, some things have not changed over many thousands of years. Take, for example, the uncomfortable truth that the money the United States population spends on its pets each year exceeds many countries' gross national products. Startled? It stands to reason that some countries struggle with the way Americans lavish their pets with merchandise when so many people go without the food, shelter and medicine that are considered basic necessities. Not surprisingly, some countries react to this disparity by equating certain pets with excess and banning them from the streets. In Iran, small lap dogs are considered not just luxurious, but offensively Western, and their owners risk having such dogs seized if walked in public.

This modern-day response to Western excess has not always been a cause of dog disdain. Instead, dogs have been considered an upper-class extravagance in other countries for centuries, leading to social conflict as dog lovers battled with governments advocating for canine social extinction. China, now one of the top dog-owning countries in the world, was involved in mass culling of dogs during its cultural revolution. Still today, China is one of many countries walking a fine line between keeping and consuming pets - it remains of the biggest consumers of dog meat on the globe.

While pet-keeping is not a universal practice, pets are widely kept in many countries. No fewer than 18 countries are listed on the numerous "Top Ten" lists for dog, cat, bird and fish owning. (For a breakdown, see the online companion to this print article at www.startribune.com/petcentral). International market research shows that dogs are by far the most popular pet in the world; cats run a close second; and birds are often competing with fish for third place. Many more countries are known for keeping other, less common pets, including small mammals, reptiles, horses, other livestock and insects.

India's sacred cow

It appears that trends in pet-keeping are often reflective of a country's geography, level of industrialization, spiritual roots and ethnic diversity. Many cultures that consider specific species to be sacred or meaningful will find a way to keep those species either as pets, religious symbols or both. Much has been written about India's sacred cow - a symbol of the holy mother-provider to Hindus. In fact, India has the largest concentration of livestock in the world. It is important to note, though, that many other animals are considered significant in Hinduism - including the monkey and the snake - leading to a proliferation of pet monkeys and captive cobras in India. Similarly, Muslim pet-keeping practices are influenced by religious dictates that identify dogs as impure (they may not enter a home and may only be kept for a concrete use) but consider cats as beautiful, useful and practical.

Clearly, there is more to the practice of pet-keeping than meets the eye. A bit of digging, and a fair amount of open-mindedness can reveal a lengthy and rich history of human-animal relationships across the cultures comprising our world. While Americans may claim top honors in sheer numbers of pet-keeping, it seems that the benefits of animal companionship stretch beyond boundaries.

Jeannine Moga, MA, MSW, LICSW is a social worker and human-animal bond specialist at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center, and an editorial advisory board member for Star Tribune Pet Central. www.cvm.umn.edu/vmc/aboutvmc/clientsupport.html