Why do we care about animals? What value do they have to us except as a food source?
I understand that thousands of years ago, some animals were gathered by people in herds to become a food source, and others followed people, to feed on their trash and left-overs, and became permanent members of their households by their mere presence. It is natural that people formed a bond with dogs-they serve as an early warning system with barking. They also became a source of food for people because they were easy pickings. This is still the way a lot of societies and people see dogs–utilitarian only.
How did this relationship become an emotional one for people? (And I believe animals share in this, too. Have you ever seen a pet that is stictly loyal and loves someone? Especially ONE someone?)
I heard someone angry about the fact that, while there are starving people, some board their pets in special hotels and feed gourmet snacks, adapt routines so that their pets are not lonely.
Are we too emotional about animals? Animals or people–who’s more important?
I have three dogs that sleep next to me each night–it’s just a hypothetical question.
If there’s a heaven, I won’t go unless I go to the one where dogs are allowed
GD you folks are grouchy–sorry I posed a question for debate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jaden
February 25th, 2010 at 11:06 pm
Jacob
hey animals feel to the have nerves that can feel so we love animals becuase they are our friends we can talk to them and they just look you back with a nice smile without saying anything bad back at you
we should not treat animals bad because if you were an animal you wouldnt like to get hit
and my dog save from a fire because i left the oven on and went to sleep my dog bark and bark until i woke up so yes some animals are loyal
February 27th, 2010 at 10:30 pm
Jeremiah
Animals can’t go out and get a job to buy their own food. How are you even comparing animals and people? They are not one in the same. People need to grow up and be responsible for their own well-being and sometimes animals need a little help.
March 3rd, 2010 at 6:29 am
Hannah
It has been proven that the warmth of a cat snuggled next to you, and it’s purring can lower a person’s blood pressure.
Many nursing homes are finding out the value of having animals around for the residence. It seems to have a positive calming effect on the patients.
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:58 am
Sofia
Have you ever been to a zoo? There is a lot to learn about animals. We learn a lot by observing them. Food source alone?? I’m dumbfounded by your callousness.
I have pets and have always been around animals. My cats are very loyal to me. It’s not just because that I feed them. They have become used to me and they show love. I don’t have children. I prefer animals to people most of the time. Animals do not just exist for our own purpose. We need to learn to live in harmony with them. If you got rid of all animals then what would you have?
Cats and dogs have been domesticated a long time. They are companion animals. After a long and tired day, I love that I have pets waiting to greet me and give me some attention without conditions. I think you should visit a zoo and/or read some books on animals. It seems like you know very little and I don’t know how old you are or anything about you. But from your question, it seems you have been seriously deprived. You are missing out on something very beautiful and educational in life. Get thee to a zoo and/or aquarium immediately!
March 4th, 2010 at 8:55 pm
Riley
Can’t speak for everyone but for me I adore all animals god chose 2 by 2 anyways ya know. I have no kids and my animals are my kids I see nothing wrong with the love and devotion some people give their pets. It has been studied and proven in some cases animals help the ederly, the sick cheers em up and keeps them smiling that is a good thing to me. THey help find missing people and catch bad people they protect you beyond no doubt. they never question you and will be loyal to you beyond a shadow of a doubt follow you through hell and back and still wag a tail or purr. How many humans can you say honestly will do that.???? Think about it
March 7th, 2010 at 1:32 am
Isaiah
animals are more important, with out animals we would die, there would beno meat to eat, and no bugs to polunate plants so there would be no food! so if you think we could live with out food, then HA.
any one who thinks animals are just food is sick, thats a nasty way to think of things! what if the animals thought of us as food! we would be gone in no time.
people like you make me sick!
March 10th, 2010 at 2:58 am
Christopher
well people are just animals. modern humans are just homo sapian sapian. same as wolves are just canis lupus.
dogs used to be domesticated and bred for security purpose. eventully the people who had them as security grew fond of their dogs. and their dogs knew the human was the alpha and they wanted t protect their alpha. example
i get a puppy. i feed it and if it does something wrong i scold it. it knows i have the power becasue i proveide the food and im in charge. it views me as the alpha dog. in the wild it would live in a group with a bunch of dogs and one of them is the boss the alpha he provides food and shelter. they all count on him. i become that. dog loves and respects me as it grows.
same thing goes in early domestication. that happened. and the person who becomes the alpha enjoys the company and grows close to the dog. those feelings are passed on to the next generation adn it becomes more extrmeme because they grew up like that. and they are more extreme and their kids grow up in the extreme environment and are even more extreme and it goes on and on.
March 11th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
Kevin
It also gets down to, are we even supposed to eat animals?
Humans and animals share a special bond. You ask people or animals, but in reality we can easily have both. There will never be a need to ultimately choose one or another, we can have and care for both.
And comparing people who spoil their pets with special hotels and gourmet snacks to starving people is not fair. There are stray animals wandering the streets, and there are animals spoiled rotten by their owners, just like there are people who live in mansions and there are homeless people living in the streets.
March 14th, 2010 at 10:16 am
Katherine
Have you ever considered that it’s not a contest?
I don’t really understand why animal lovers are picked on so much by people who just don’t understand them.
I choose to form relationships with animals for several reasons.
1) Animals tend to behave and react in a consistent manner. My dog is always overjoyed to see me. He doesn’t ignore me because the dog down the street is around and doesn’t think I’m ‘cool’ enough.
2) If I buy something my dog likes, he’s happy to receive it. If I buy a gift for a human friend, they will compare it to other gifts, complain that it’s not quite the color they wanted, want to exchange it or otherwise try to infer more meaning behind it then was meant.
My relationship with my pets is a well-balanced ‘give and take’ for both parties. I get consistent, trustworthy companionship and they get quality care.
I think the reason that pets have become so important to people is because of the change in how people view one another. Thanks to a constant array on television of people that are more attractive then most of us, wealthier than most of us and ‘cooler’ then most of us, we’ve raised our standards for friends to a level that’s impossible for most to achieve.
I for one, won’t be attempting another human friendship. I’m happily married and I love my family, both its furry and non-furry members. I have no desire to join a never ending rat race over the next Louis Vuitton or Mercedes Benz or whatever everyone else is buying now.
When people stop wasting money on nothing but a name, something that doesn’t breathe and feel, I’ll quit ‘wasting’ mine on my pets.
March 16th, 2010 at 10:11 pm
Gabriella
Everyone cares about pets because they’re the person you can trust, and they make you feel better. Animals are not just food sources, they are also compainions. We have two greyhounds, and I love them both. I have seen a dog that loves just ONE person. It’s one of our greyhounds, he loves one person in the family, (even if it’s not me).
I think that humans and animals came to love each other when humans found out how nice it is to have an animal to love and take care of. About the fact about starving people, there’s plenty of food out there for everyone, and killing dogs and cats isn’t the solution to world hunger. And the people who spoil they’re dogs, well it’s there own choice to spend their money on it!