An animal kept as a pet distinguishes itself from other animals confined within certain human boundaries. Livestock serves a specific purpose, as do laboratory animals, sport animals and working animals such as plow horses. But what purpose do pet animals actually serve?
It is not uncommon to see stars and the rich and famous at some red carpet event or some televised gala carrying something in the palm of their hand, something with bulging eyes that makes this little yelping sound that some say is a bark. Then you take a closer look, and lo and behold, it is a dog, or a kind of dog anyway. A hairless, size-less creature with eyes much too big for its head and a 5-carat diamond bracelet-turned-collar around its neck, weighing it down.
So the question is, what purpose is there in carrying around an animal like that? Companionship? Allow us to doubt this. It simply does not, it simply cannot register in my mind that such a dog can provide anything more than annoyance. Is it just for show? Is it a trend? What is happening nowadays that a pet is no longer selected from the ranks of the typical domestic species that best serves the purpose of amusement, affection...