− | A '''pet''' is a household [[animal]] kept for [[companionship]] and a person's enjoyment, as opposed to wild animals or to livestock, [[laboratory]] animals, [[working]] animals or sport animals, which are kept for [[economic]] or productive reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their [[loyal]] or playful characteristics, for their [[attractive]] appearance, and/or for their [[song]]. Pets also generally seem to provide their owners with non-trivial [[health]] benefits; keeping pets has been shown to help relieve [[stress]] to those who like having animals around. There is now a medically-approved class of "[[therapy]] animals," mostly [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog dogs], that are brought to [[visit]] confined [[humans]]. Walking a dog can provide both the owner and the dog with [[exercise]], fresh air, and [[social]] [[interaction]]. The most popular pets are [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogs dogs] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cats cats], but there are also rodent pets, such as gerbils, hamsters, chinchillas, fancy rats, and guinea pigs, and avian pets, such as canaries, parakeets, or parrots. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pets] | + | A '''pet''' is a household [[animal]] kept for [[companionship]] and a person's enjoyment, as opposed to wild animals or to livestock, [[laboratory]] animals, [[working]] animals or sport animals, which are kept for [[economic]] or productive reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their [[loyal]] or playful characteristics, for their [[attractive]] appearance, and/or for their [[song]]. Pets also generally seem to provide their owners with non-trivial [[health]] benefits; keeping pets has been shown to help relieve [[stress]] to those who like having animals around. There is now a medically-approved class of "[[therapy]] animals," mostly [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog dogs], that are brought to [[visit]] confined [[humans]]. Walking a dog can provide both the owner and the dog with [[exercise]], fresh air, and [[social]] [[interaction]]. The most popular pets are [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogs dogs] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cats cats], but there are also rodent pets, such as gerbils, hamsters, chinchillas, fancy rats, and guinea pigs, and avian pets, such as canaries, parakeets, or parrots. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pets] |