Editing Pet (section)

{{Short description|Animal kept for companionship rather than utility}}
{{About|animals kept for companionship|the use of "pet" as a verb, "petting"|Social grooming|other uses|Pet (disambiguation)|and|PETS (disambiguation){{!}}PETS}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}

[[File:Trillium Poncho cat dog.jpg|thumb|A [[piebald]] [[tabby]] [[Moggy|shorthair]] cat with a [[Mixed breed|mixed]] [[mastiff]] dog]]
[[File:Pet-rebbit-on-Swing (seat)-in-beijing.jpg|thumb|A [[Netherland Dwarf rabbit]]]]

A '''pet''', or '''companion animal''', 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/[[Cuteness|cute]] appearances, [[Animal cognition|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 the most popular pets are [[dog]]s and [[cat]]s. Other animals commonly kept include [[House rabbit|rabbits]]; [[ferret]]s; [[domestic pig|pig]]s; [[rodent]]s such as [[gerbil]]s, [[hamster]]s, [[chinchilla]]s, [[rats]], [[mice]], and [[guinea pig]]s; [[bird]]s such as [[parrot]]s, [[passerine]]s, and [[fowl]]s; [[reptiles]] such as [[turtle]]s, [[lizard]]s, [[snake]]s, and [[iguana]]s; [[aquarium|aquatic pets]] such as [[fish]], [[freshwater snail]]s, and [[sea snail|saltwater]] snails; [[amphibians]] such as [[frog]]s and [[salamanders]]; and [[arthropod]] pets such as [[tarantula]]s and [[hermit crab]]s. Smaller pets include [[Rodents as pets|rodents]], while the [[equine]] and [[bovine]] group include the largest companion animals.

Pets provide their owners, or guardians,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015|title=Position Statement on Ownership/Guardianship|url=https://www.aspca.org/about-us/aspca-policy-and-position-statements/position-statement-ownershipguardianship|url-status=live|access-date=7 November 2021|website=ASPCA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151110075259/https://www.aspca.org/about-us/aspca-policy-and-position-statements/position-statement-ownershipguardianship|archive-date=10 November 2015}}</ref> 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 is a medically approved class of [[therapy animals]] that are brought to visit confined humans, such as [[Children's hospital|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 the animals.<ref name="leslie" /> 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%).<ref name="leslie">{{Cite journal | pmc = 1686751 | pmid = 8076276 |date=April 1994|author1=Leslie, Be |author2=Meek, Ah |author3=Kawash, Gf |author4=Mckeown, Db | title = An epidemiological investigation of pet ownership in Ontario | volume = 35 | issue = 4 | pages = 218–22 | issn = 0008-5286 | journal = The Canadian Veterinary Journal | format = Free full text }}</ref> Some [[scholars]], [[ethicist]]s, and [[animal rights organizations]] have raised concerns over keeping pets because of the lack of autonomy and the objectification of [[non-human]] animals.<ref>{{cite news |last= McRobbie|first=Linda Rodriguez|date=1 August 2017|title=Should we stop keeping pets? Why more and more ethicists say yes|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/aug/01/should-we-stop-keeping-pets-why-more-and-more-ethicists-say-yes|work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=3 August 2017}}</ref>