What animals make the best/worst pets?
The relationship between humans and animals dates back thousands of years, evolving from companionship to domestication. Early dogs were the first domesticated animals, aiding humans in hunting and providing companionship. As agriculture developed, other animals like cows and goats were domesticated for food and transport. This process highlighted the distinction between taming and domesticating. Taming is training for obedience while intrinsic behaviors stay intact. Modern domestication often symbolizes status, leading to issues like irresponsible pet ownership. Ultimately, a balanced approach to animal care respects their freedom and promotes a healthy, clean environment for all species involved.
Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- The relationship between humans and animals has evolved from companionship to domestication over thousands of years.
- Domestication differs from taming; it involves a mutual change in behavior between humans and animals for coexistence.
- Dogs were the first domesticated animals, assisting humans in hunting and companionship, while agriculture led to the domestication of livestock.
- Higher social status often correlates with the number of domesticated animals, leading to irresponsible ownership and animal welfare issues.
- A balanced approach to caring for animals respects their freedom and promotes a healthy environment for all species involved.
Introduction
Relation between humans and animals is very old. At times it is interactive. Animals show emotional attachments with humans and live in vicinity of each other. Despite that they are not domesticated or tamed, they know each other in the locality they share. The companionship gradually converted into domestication of animals by human beings.
Long ago
Billions of years ago, the Earth was a burning hot mass of dust and gases. Over time, it gradually cooled down. Scientists have concluded it from their research and studies.
(1) Ocean and sea formed
The cooling mass affected many physical features. It gradually condensed to become a round mass surrounded by gaseous environment. Elements in gaseous forms like Hydrogen and Oxygen reacted to form water. It was in vapour form. As the Earth cooled further, it condensed and fell as heavy downpours. These downpours lasted thousands of years. The downpour filled ditches, craters, crevices and faults converting them to oceans and seas. The huge water mass later acted as test tubes and Petri dishes for experimentation by Nature. Thus, the first life was born.
(2) First life emerged
Millions of years after the emergence of life, continuous changes in the environment occurred. These changes in the physical structures of the earth and other factors led to changes in life forms.
(3) From unicellular to colony
Unicellular organisms gradually came together to form a colony that could face adversity more effectively. Volvox is an appropriate example of colonisation. It (Volvox) is an algae where a few unicellular flagellate organisms come together to form a rounded colony. This probably represented the precursor of multicellular organisms with a division of labour.
(4) Humans evolved
The human race has evolved through a series of experimentation, trial and error by nature.
Human brain
Human beings are structurally complex of all living organisms. The continuous change in the earth’s condition led to several changes in human development. The most conspicuous change for the human body was the development of the brain. It is a highly complex and intricate organ. The human brain is encased securely in a stout bone cage or cranium. It is the headquarters of the human body. Here, millions of impulses are received, processed, and responded to. To do its task effectively, it has a well-developed network of nerves and neurons connected to the brain.
(1) Brain controls body
The brain acts as a super boss of the body. It controls every activity and system, from blood circulation to limb movement. Every action, from thought generation to its processing to reflex action, is guided by the brain.
(2) Thought processing
Logical power and processing of thoughts are the impulses that radically change human behaviour. Human beings transitioned from lone individuals to forming groups. They also evolved from being nomadic to becoming settlers. They learned a lot and improved with the reasoning and analysing power of their brains.
(3) Commensalism
As humans grew, they learned the power of cooperation. Symbiosis was already there in nature. Organisms, including human beings, learned about commensalism. This means taking help from others without harming them. It also involves giving something back to the host. There are examples of such behaviour which illustrate this behaviour.
(3.1) Orchid
Orchids, for example, are epiphytes. They grow and flourish on the bough of a tree. They do this without harming the tree in any way. Their hygroscopic roots billow down the branch and absorb moisture to cater for the water needs of the plant. They photosynthesise and manufacture their food. Except for the harmless shelter of the tree, Orchids don’t harm the host tree.
(3.2) Barnacles
Barnacles, on the same lines, attached to whales or tortoises grow on the body of their host without harming them.
Long companionship
The domestication of animals is ancient. The oldest animal that was domesticated approximately 15,000 years ago was the dog. Dogs have adapted according to humans and their behaviours. Humans have also learned and retained the benefits of companionship with dogs using their brain power. As civilisation progressed, the domestication of animals became progressively more organised and utility-based. (Britannica)
(1) Hunting with dogs
Dogs would go with humans during their hunting expeditions and help them in their efforts. As humans refined their lifestyle and started living a settled life, gradually many more animals were added to the list.
(2) Taming vs domestication
These animals were not tamed but domesticated. There is a fine distinction between the two. Domestication is a gradual change in the behaviour of an animal towards human beings. Taming is like training them according to human requirements. In the latter case, the animal doesn’t lose its intrinsic and inherited character.
(2.1) Taming
Taming a wild animal, say a tiger, is one such example. The tiger doesn’t lose its basic instinct. Yet, through continuous training, it “learns” to tolerate the human. To a great extent, it “loves” the human who is accompanying it. It is in contrast to the behaviour of a dog or a cow.
(2.2) Domestication
Domestication is mutual. Humans learned to domesticate animals that possessed some beneficial traits in their favour. After they began leading a settled life, they required a consistent source of food and water. They started making their settlements on the river banks. To till their fields and lug their loads, they needed help. They domesticated crops for a perennial food supply. They also domesticated animals like cows, sheep, buffalo, pigs, horses and poultry. This supplemented the food supply with milk, butter, meat, and wool. It also provided transportation.
(3) Training animals
Humans with sharp brains and sentiments soon learned a vital lesson. Some animals, or even plants, can’t be domesticated. Yet, they can be “trained” to tolerate human presence. These animals can be conditioned to obey commands. They started taming violent animals for recreational purposes only. They bartered them to those who wished to own them purely for status enhancement. Tamed animals served recreational purposes, used in fights of odds in the Stadia or Colosseum in gladiatorial fights. Later, taming extended to ornamental purposes. Trained animals performed in a circus for the recreation of spectators.
Livestock domestication
The domestication of animals other than dogs started much later. This included animals like cattle, goats, and sheep. This occurred after the rise in agriculture (9000-7000 BCE). Soon, humans learned about the animals’ adaptation and their ability to tolerate human presence. They saw how these animals help them in various ways. Soon the domesticated animals became their wealth. They became status symbols for an individual. More animals meant more wealth and resources, resulting in the power and social status of the individual.
Social status
Taming or domesticating animals became the symbol of affluence and power. The wish to show one’s status and power in society was growing. Thus, animals were ruthlessly eliminated under the guise of hunting to ludicrously flaunt status, power and regality.
(1) Hunting
Hunting emerged as a favourite pastime and fun for resourceful people. Ruthless animal killing became a powerful means of showing fake valour and courage. Special “Machaan” (Platforms) used to be tied at the vantage points on trees. Animals would drive towards the men on “Machaans” for a clumsy show of valour (!). Taxidermists used to prepare stuffed predatory animals for display in royal palaces or bungalows. The princely states had personal jungles or open areas to keep game animals and satiate their sybaritic pangs.
(2) Caging birds
Catching and caging birds like parrots, Munia, Bulbul, and Myna were purely to satiate their whims. In the days of the Nawabs, cockfights were a common means of recreation. The intoxicated roosters with knives tied to their talons were made to fight till the end. The crowd would shout in joy and encourage the birds to fight.
The selling of beautiful, caged birds became frequent. In current times, the increased awareness has not only discouraged this tendency but has doused it.
(3) Callous attitude
Modern human beings are ostensibly sophisticated. Domestication of dogs has become increasingly popular. It is common to see status-minded neo-rich in the morning hours. They wander with a dog leash in one hand. A stick is in the other hand. Ignoring the civic norms and difficulties of others, they do not mind their dogs defecating on the roads or pavements. Personal aquariums with colourful non-native fish are also in vogue. Ironically, they do it in the name of “animal love”.
bliss
Animals are living creatures like human beings. They love their personal liberty. Except for domesticated animals or creatures, other animal groups do not like a caged life. Additionally, lower animal groups like ophidians have incipient brains. These animals lack emotions and are not a good choice as pets. Similarly, watching a parrot move with difficulty in a small cage is painful. Birds and animals are not a thing for caging as “tamed” animals. They look pretty and give immense joy when seen in their natural environment.
In the End
The most important of all is the strict adherence to civic sense and rule-abiding. The incidence of dog biting and littering by them is on the increase. It is the responsibility of their owners to adhere to the norms and rules. A clean and healthy society showcases the ideal society where every organism is safe, sound and healthy.
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