Picking the Perfect Pet

Background

Throughout history, humans and animals have coexisted, relying on each other for aid and comfort. From offering companionship, to serving as hunting partners or providing other manual labor, our connection with animals runs deep. Recent estimates suggest that more than half of people worldwide have a pet of some kind in their household, from the more conventional dogs and cats to birds, rodents, and even the more exotic species such as snakes and amphibians. Whether they walk, fly, swim, or crawl; furry, feathered (or scaled) friends continue to support and comfort people across the globe.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries and regions around the world saw a substantial increase in the number of households with pets, highlighting the comfort and companionship pets offer in challenging times. The surge in pet ownership, however, also underscored the complexities of pet-human relationships. Unprepared or uninformed new owners often lead to pets being returned to shelters or abandoned, contributing to the substantial number of stray animals across the world. This leads to potentially difficult living situations for the animal while also posing health risks to humans and other animals.