2021 ANIMAL STORIES MAGAZINE

2021 PET MAGAZINE LINCOLN DAILY NEWS JANUARY 21, 2021 Page 13 two legged kitten that didn’t quite figure out the feline-form of socialization. Cats seem to be treated as property in a different way than dogs. This is because some people misunderstand how cats behave, and how they try to avoid people more often. But, just like dogs, cats can pick up on when they should approach. Cats are just as often used as support animals, and are great companions for people with autism or attention disorders, because they often socialize in similar ways. Dogs are often treated as property because they have a variety of uses. Dogs can be protectors from intruders, or they can be herders on the farm, or they can be used as hunters. Dogs are frequently partnered with law enforcement or military personnel. But dogs are a lot like people; they crave a social circle. Much like cats, dogs see humans as strange, two legged dogs. The difference is that a dog is more likely to understand that a human is charge. Different dogs react to that in different ways. Some dogs are more standoffish with strangers, and some dogs run and hide. Some dogs love everyone that comes through the door, and some dogs are aggressive on sight unless told to be otherwise. The point here is that dogs have feelings and opinions about people, which makes it really easy for people to do the same. And when we start to see feelings in a living thing, it gets harder to treat them like property. But what do pets get out of these relationships? In a way, they see a lot of the same benefits. They get food and shelter, but more importantly, they get a chance to socialize on their own terms. An animal in the wild risks isolation, but a pet has a chance to be part of a social group. Even a skittish dog or a cat who wants to be left alone still wants the option of socializing. Often times, a human treats a pet as a companion instead of property because the pet has already done the same. Finally, pets are often treated like family out of a sense of responsibility. Nobody likes reading news stories where a horde of animals is taken from a home because they’ve just kept adopting animals, despite the fact that one person can’t take care of everything. Pets are living beings with needs, and treating them like more than an object helps us remember that. Continue p