ASAS CENTENNIAL PAPER: Perspectives on domestication: The history of our relationship with man’s best friend

摘要: We are a nation of dog lovers. Never before in our history have we spent more time, money, and emotional energy on group animals that kept solely for companionship. Pet food sales multi-billion dollar industry, pet owners spending than 11 billion dollars each year veterinary care. This devotion is further illustrated by the exponential growth supply including increasing numbers superstores, play-parks, training centers, doggie day care centers. During 1980s, recognition human-animal bond led to serious study roles dogs play lives. These studies shown pets provide significant benefits emotional, physical, social well being. It ironic then, at time when recognize appreciate bonds with animal companions, dark elements this relationship equally pervasive. Animal shelters United States kill between 3 4 million cats annually. Dog fighting, although outlawed, has reached epidemic proportions some areas country. Episodes cruelty neglect reported alarming frequency media; so frequently discussions connection human violence become daily parlance. How then did come such paradoxical perceptions treatment canine companions? question explored through an examination ancestry prevailing myths facts about domestication. Historical present-day wolf impact these attitudes may upon examined.