What makes a pet a pet? Why do you have and care for your pet?
The whole concept of "pet" is probably hard to define, isn't it? Oh, sure, you can get a dictionary definition of "pet" and it probably goes something like this: "a domesticated animal kept for pleasure rather than utility." That's how Merriam-Webster defines a pet, anyway.
But why do some people find cats and dogs to be good "pets," while others enjoy turtles, fish, even bats? What "pleasure" is there in some of the more unusual pets, such as tarantulas, for example?
I thought about this while looking at a website I ran onto regarding box turtles. The person doing the website has worked hard over the years to "rescue" various box turtles found abandoned and/or injured in neighborhood yards, city streets and alleyways, and highways. They guy's a biologist and insists he doesn't keep box turtles around as pets, rather to help the species survive. In fact, he makes this statement:
"Turtles make lousy pets. A pet is an animal that can give affection, that comes to you out of free will and enjoys, rather than tolerates, your presence. Dogs are good pets. By this definition, cats are not. And neither are turtles."
So -- all you turtle lovers and cat lovers out there, how do you feel about his definition/explanation of what "pets" are? Do you agree that a pet has to be affectionate and come to you of its own free will to be a pet? Tell us, please.
Technorati Tags: pets, definition of pets, turtles as pets, turtles, cats, dogs, for pets and pet lovers