Pets

It seems that dogs were the first animals to be become pets, probably in Paleolithic times. Evidence from paintings and carvings in ancient tombs of Mesopotamia and Egypt suggests this. These dogs also assisted in the hunting of food. At a later date, c. 2000-1600 b.c., horses and cats became domesticated, the former for riding, the latter to keep the rat population under control. Being domesticated does not necessarily mean that these immediately became pets. Human beings, however, seem to have developed an affection for the animals with whom they worked.

Some animals, such as the seeing-eye dog, continue to have these dual roles today. On farms all over the world the distinction between pet and worker is often blurred, with dogs being used to herd sheep and cattle, sheep to “mow” the grass, and chickens and ducks to produce eggs. All these animals develop personalities that demand relationship. It is only recently that animals have become pets in the sense in which we use that word today, with their purpose being solely for the comfort and companionship of human beings. Though dogs, cats and horses remain favorites as pets, many other species make up the inventory of a modern pet store—rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, birds, fish, turtles and even reptiles. There is now also the phenomenon of breeding animals to produce more aesthetically pleasing varieties of pets. Some people will pay a high price to own a pet that comes with a piece of paper proving its pedigree.

For centuries humans have celebrated their relationship with animals in art, music and literature. From the earliest times dogs were depicted in caves and on tombs. The crypts in European cathedrals are full of casks topped with effigies in brass or stone of the master or mistress with a whippet at their feet. Stories such as “Puss in Boots” and “Dick Whittington’s Cat” have been standard fare with children for a couple of centuries. In recent times, as a visit to most bookstores proves, there has been a proliferation of stories about pets by such well-known authors as James Herriot, Paul Gallico, May Sarton and others. Pets have also been the inspiration for such comic-strip humor as Snoopy, Garfield, and Tom and Jerry (see Comics). Over the years a slew of movies have paid homage to a variety of pets, some of whom have become household names—Lassie Come Home (featuring a dog), Black Beauty (a horse), The Yearling (a deer), Flipper (a dolphin), Homeward Bound (two dogs and a cat), and Babe (a pig), to name a few. Pets get a poorer showing in music, but as Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats demonstrates, they are not totally absent.

To see how humans have come to value their pets you only have to consider the number of advertisements on television or stocks on display in supermarkets for pet food, the array of books and manuals about pets available in shops and libraries, the range of pet shows and ornaments in the shape of pets, or the amount of money that we spend annually on our pets (see Stewardship). In some circles the latter is a cause for concern, for it is interpreted as an indication that our pets have become too important in our lives. It is definitely time to pause and think when we learn that in the West most people spend more money on their pets than they give to people less fortunate than themselves, whether to charities in their own country or aid programs overseas!

Indeed we are no longer content to provide our pets with the basics of life. We want to supply them with luxuries, either as an occasional treat or as the staple of life. Once upon a time pets were fed scraps supplemented by as little deliberately bought food as possible; now we feed them scientifically balanced formulas for whatever stage of life they are at. Once we treated their sicknesses ourselves; now we not only take them to the vet when they are sick but also give them annual checkups with vaccinations and teeth-cleaning. Some animals are on long-term costly treatments for heart disease, arthritis and other complaints in much the same way as their human counterparts. There is even a growing business in funerals and cemeteries for pets, as well as in pet psychology and counseling.

A Proper Perspective on Pets

Though the Bible has plenty to say about the welfare of animals and portrays God’s concern for those that live among humans (Jonah 4:11) as well as in the wild (Psalm 104:10-18), it has nothing to say about pets in our sense of the word. While its general interest in animals—extending to their resting on the sabbath as humans do (Exodus 20:8-11)—encourages us to care for those with whom we develop a special relationship, it also counsels us against giving too much attention to any living being or material object. Have not we crossed the line here and gone from caring for our pets to giving them too big a priority in our lives, making idols of our pets? Some would argue, like Judas in the Gospels, that the money spent on pets would be better given to the poor. However, the poor, as Jesus said, are always with us (Matthew 26:11), and we need to balance our commitment to the poor with the enjoyment of God’s gifts, including pets.

Pets add much richness to our lives. They bring companionship, affection and a listening ear. For this reason it is not hard to understand why dogs and cats are by far the most popular choices as pets. They are there to greet us when we arrive home, they offer us unconditional love, asking only a modicum of attention in return, they sense our moods and know when we are in need of comfort and affection, and they are willing to listen to us without interrupting. The warmth of their bodies as we stroke them or their nestling on our knees brings great psychological and physical comfort as well.

Those in the health professions are slowly realizing what wonderful allies they have in pets. As a result pets are beginning to be provided to people in hospitals and in seniors’ homes. Even those involved in caring for emotionally disturbed youngsters are realizing that pets have an important role to play in their rehabilitation. Animal therapy, as it is called, is a growing phenomenon.

Parents have long appreciated how much their children have to learn from having a pet in the home. Through having to look after a pet, children learn that animals have to be cared for, helping develop responsibility. A pet has to be fed regularly, provided with hygienic conditions to live in and given regular affection. Without these the pet will not thrive, and neither will children or any other animal deprived of such care. While it is true that animals cannot talk, anyone watching a child with a loved pet knows that communication takes place. As children develop a relationship with a pet, they begin to read the pet’s body language. The children start to know when the pet wants something to eat or drink, needs to go outside or just wants attention. They even learn when the animal is pleased or displeased. These are good skills to learn. They have wonderful crossover value in the child’s relationships with other humans. Where there is more than one species of pet in a home, such as a dog and a cat, children have the opportunity to learn that animals who are natural enemies can live in peace when they are loved by the same person.

Pets can also be a means of spiritual grace and understanding. Just as animals are referred to throughout the Bible to portray divine things (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 3:16), so too God makes himself known to people through their pets. I have heard people claim that they first understood God’s unconditional love through the love their pet extended to them. I have often watched my own cat, seemingly fast asleep but instantly alert at the slightest noise, and reflected on the example of what it means to rest in the Lord.

Someone asked C. S. Lewis whether he thought his dog would go to heaven. Lewis replied that as Scripture was silent on the matter, he could not be sure. However, since the kingdom of God is portrayed metaphorically as embracing animals, and since his dog was so much a part of him, he was inclined to hope that this would be the case.

» See also: Chores

» See also: Family

» See also: Greeting

Resources and References

J. Sobosan, Bless the Beasts (New York: Crossroad, 1991).

—Julie Banks