The mammal I chose to express my gratitude towards is the domestic dog. The domestic dog is a part of the order Carnivora, the suborder Caniformia, and the family Canidae. The reason why I am thankful that the domestic dog continues to exist on this Earth is because without them, hearts would be broken and serious problems will arise. In the United States alone almost 70 million households own a pet dog. Out of those 70 million, 90 percent of dog owners say that they consider their dog as a part of the family. I am among those who love and care for their dog like they are flesh and blood. Taking into account that you treat dogs with the respect they deserve, they are loyal and will love you unconditionally. This unconditional love that I receive from my dog makes me eternally grateful. Dogs are not just great companions but also aid humans with a healthier life. Studies have shown that humans who have domesticated dogs are more likely to experience decreased stress levels, decreased heart problems, decrease the effects of anxiety, and can even decrease the feeling of loneliness which in turn increases the likelihood of good mental health. …show more content…
There are dogs that are trained for the military and the police force for tasks such as drug sniffing and bomb detection. These dogs are placed in dangerous and life threatening situations to protect human lives. Domesticated dogs are also helpful in occupational situations such as therapy and farming. My admiration for the domestic dog is not an admiration that is specifically intrinsic. The reason why my admiration was not specifically intrinsic is because my admiration is more recreational rather than medical or
Using popular belief, you would probably think that dogs have been our companions for thousands and thousands of years. In reality, the question is this: are dogs our companions or are we dog’s companions? Without a doubt, we have evolved dogs, but have dogs evolved us too? Would civilization be around if it weren’t for dogs? That’s the question I leave you with today. People and dogs, or dogs and people. The chicken and the egg.
Dogs have impacted the lives of 44% of American families and homes. People use dogs for much more than just a family friend. Dogs are used for special needs, assisting police, and hunting and tracking. Dogs should be appreciated and never taught to fight or be neglected. Dog fighting is unethical because man’s best friend shouldn’t have to fight for their lives.
Take a moment and picture a dog in your head. What do you see? You may see many different things depending on your own personal encounters with the species. There are many types of dogs out there. Some small, some large, long-haired or short-haired. There are many variances in what a dog can look like. One thing that does not change, or should not change, is the importance for every dog in this world to be given love and affection, no matter its characteristics. This is what leads me to believe that the obsession with producing and owning purebreds needs to come to a halt. Continuing to create these so-called “best dogs” is dangerous to not only the purebred’s health, but also devalues mixed breeds and can cost them their lives in animal shelters where they may never escape. My interest in this topic caused me to look into seeing what other people felt about it.
What makes us who we are? To answer that question we must establish what we are. We are the most advanced generation of human being the world has ever seen. We as a people come up with new innovations and inventions every day that make life easier. It’s fairly easy to get caught up in what we are as a society and just think that who we are as well but, this isn 't the case. Who we are is also known as our personal identity and there are many aspects of this identity, so many in fact that focusing on only a few comprehensive aspects and going into depth on these aspects will provide a coherent view of what goes into making us who we are.
Dogs are common throughout the world, either as a domestic pet, a protector on a farm, or an assistant for hunting amongst others. Regardless of the reason for having a dog, most people have either owned one for themselves or have known somebody who has owned one at some point in their life. Despite the relative normality of having a dog in your life in one way or another, the reasons for dogs coming into existence are not common knowledge among most people. Throughout a great portion of mankind’s history, dogs have been an essential part of life. The truth is, dogs were actually created in part by man.
The grey wolf has been transformed into what we, today, call a dog. After years of traveling with humans, the wolf began to change and became adapted and tame enough to socialize with humans. The environment it was placed into was one of the causes for change, and another was the role it played for humans.
In the article titled “An Examination of the Relations between Social Support, Anthropomorphism and Stress among Dog Owners”, the existence of the multitude of benefits of owning a pet is explored. The relationship between owners perceived social support from their dog, the aspect of anthropomorphism, and stress levels. Anthropomorphism is defined as “the attribution of human states (thoughts, feelings, motivations, and beliefs) to non-human animals”. This was also considered to include thinking of the pet as a family member or close friend, assigning a family role such as baby or grandpa, dressing it in clothes, and the pet owner assigning themselves a role as mother or father of the pet. (Duvall & Pychyl, 2008)
Thesis Statement: While most owners are aware of the amount of joy and laughter dogs bring to them and their family, they are unaware that their dogs love them unconditionally and can help them have better lives
Have you ever wondered how different our lives would be if it wasn’t for our furry friends? Of course non-dog owners could argue that it wouldn’t make much difference. But what if dogs are the reason why millions of people around the globe have a healthier and happier lifestyle? I know I know… “This sounds so cliché” you might say –but it’s the total truth! These little buddies encourage and motivate us to triumph over the roughest days. (Not all of them are little though. Have you ever been near a Saint Bernard? Those pups are huge!)
Armbruster, K. (2002). “Good Dog”: The stories we tell about our canine companions and what they mean for humans and other animals, 38 (4), 351, 26. Retrieved from http://www.siue.edu/PLL/
“A dog is a man’s best friend” goes much deeper than the phrase might initially imply. Recently many medical journals have begun to identify with the many and varied benefits of pet ownership. Men have always relied upon animals for work, transportation, and survival. As times have changed, man has begun to appreciate a different bond with animals. Gone are the days of animals running free outside around the homestead, for now animals are allowed inside and are considered by many to be an integral part of our daily lives! Medical studies have found that animals have a much greater intelligence level than originally thought. Through proper training and experience, animals are not only household pets, but also are becoming an accepted form of medical treatment.
Often during times of distress, people use religion as a way of coping with problems. The dog in the story is “. . . turned over upon his back, and held his paws in a peculiar manner. At the same time with his ears and his eyes he offered a small prayer to the child”(Crane, "A Dark Brown Dog"). This happens several times in the story which usually brings the little boy happiness.
Animals are not valued enough: Many forget that animals have feelings too. We tend to overlook the benefits of having a pet. Allen R. McConnell, Ph.D., a professor of Psychology at the university of Miami published an online journal in 2011, about research on pet ownership, “Pets provide meaningful social support for owners, improving their lives. Whereas some past research found that people facing serious health challenges are better with pets, the current work found that everyday people can benefit from pet ownership as well” (Friends with Benefits: Pets Make Us Happier, Healthier). Animals can bring immense joy in our lives if we allow them to and we start looking at them as companions and not
Some people may say a dog is just a dog, but for me they are extremely desirable. Dogs are a person’s best friend. They make me cry, laugh, and I wish never adopted one because they do smell. Although, dogs smell, it should not be a justification to not obtain one. I mean what does not smell? I never realized how taking care of a dog could change my life; until I saw how they sleep throughout the day, they are always there to comfort me, and how they provide a responsible way of living.
Dogs are wonderful creatures. They are loyal, dependable companions if given the opportunity. In recent years I have come to the opinion that we could learn something from these animals. We should also take a look at the manner in which they are being treated. Abandonment, irresponsible breeding, and neglect are only some of the ways that humans are failing the canine species.