Pets
Webpages concerning "Pets"
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Wikipedia-Article "Pets"
- This page is about domestic animals. For several meanings of the acronym PET, see PET. For the comedy tv series see Pets (tv programme).
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. See also Dog adoption.
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.
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Common Pet species
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
Birds
- Budgerigars (parakeets)
- Cockatoos
- Macaws
- other parrot species
- Canaries and other finch species
- Doves
- Cockatiels
- Ducks
Reptiles
- Tortoises
- Lizards
- Iguanas
- Snakes
- Turtles
- Crocodilians, including alligators, crocodiles, caimans, gavials (can usually only be kept as pets when they are young)
Amphibians
- Frogs
- Toads
- Salamanders
- Newts
- Caecilian, a wormlike amphibian that lives underground
Fish
See: Aquarium
Arthropods
Mollusks
- Octupi (see also Aquarium)
- Cuttlefish (see also Aquarium)
Rocks
- Pet rocks (a type of toy treated as an actual pet)