SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
The recent popularity of "designer" dogs, cats, micro-pigs and other pets may seem to suggest that pet keeping is no more than a fad. Indeed, it is often assumed that pets are a Western affectation, a weird relic of the working animals kept by communities of the past.
About half of the households in Britain alone include some kind of pet; roughly 10m of those are dogs while cats make up another 10m. Pets cost time and money, and nowadays bring little in the way of material benefits. But during the 2008 financial crisis, spending on pets remained almost unaffected, which suggests that for most owners pets are not a luxury but an integral and deeply loved part of the family.
Some people are into pets, however, while others simply aren't interested. Why is this the case? It is highly probable that our desire for the company of animals actually goes back tens of thousands of years and has played an important part in our evolution. If so, then genetics might help explain why a love of animals is something some people just don't get.
[...] The pet-keeping habit often runs in families: this was once ascribed to children coming to imitate their parents' lifestyles when they leave home, but recent research has suggested that it also has a genetic basis. Some people, whatever their upbringing, seem predisposed to seek out the company of animals, others less so.
Is the desire to keep pets really hard-wired in our DNA?
(Score: 3, Insightful) by driven on Sunday October 01 2017, @03:34PM (4 children)
Unconditional love, companionship, exercise buddy, pets are definitely amazing. But this is something that can't be explained, only experienced, just like not everyone wants to have kids and yet if they do they go "oh, I get it now!".
Having a slightly dirtier or slightly smellier house is absolutely worth it for all the love and memories.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 01 2017, @03:43PM (3 children)
I completely agree with your post except for:
There are many, many people who admit to feeling horribly trapped and filled with hopeless despair because of what their life has become since they had children, after other people assured them it would be different. For this reason I'd be careful giving advice like this.
(Score: 2) by driven on Sunday October 01 2017, @04:22PM
>> But this is something that can't be explained, only experienced, just like not everyone wants to have kids and yet if they do they go "oh, I get it now!".
True, my assertion doesn't apply to everyone. Not many assertions do. YMMV.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 01 2017, @11:09PM (1 child)
You mean adolescents, who cannot accept responsibility? "We were just playing, until somebody got pregnant!" Red Pillars! This is why NOBODY should keep a Sad Puppy as a pet.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 02 2017, @01:06AM
No, not just adolescents. Not everyone wants children, you know. Not everyone will suddenly like children after having one or more, either.