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Role of Associate Animals
Speaking of pets, we remember dogs and cats at first, but there are many families increasing who keep different kinds of pets like birds, some amphibians, or some reptiles. Those animals are treated so respectfully and so protectively, and nowadays they are called not "pet" but "companion animal".
According to the policy of Companion Animal Research, which is a non profitable organization founded in 1997 to enlighten their mind of the owners, the role that pets play in human society has attracted much attention of late. Previously, pets were thought to be merely something on which lavished affection. Now, however, they have come to be thought of companions, or companion animals, that live together with people.
On one hand, human relations and bond among people have become weaker and weaker, why is that between people and such animals, on the other hand, getting stronger ?
We see many troubles which may have caused by the lack of communication or weakness of human relations. We need time and effort to be able to understand each other and establish good relations. But as it is very common to live in a core family, and as the number of children in a family is decreasing, people have less opportunity to learn to develop our relationship while communicating or sometimes quarrelling.
We often hear young generations say "kireru" in Japanese, which implies they could easily get irritated or angry and resort to violence, when they cannot make themselves understood by means of communicating. They are very poor at communicating at a liberal stance. In other words, they are too defensive in order not to be hurt mentally and physically, and are also very nervous not to invade others' privacy.
Thus, it seems much comfortable to be accompanied by a pet rather than a person. The more affection we offer the pet, the more familiar he/she would be. The pet will never betray our devotion, even if it is too self-satisfied.
Actually, they study about the relation between human beings and pets revealed that it is very effective socially, psychologically and physically. Especially they say for those people who live alone or are in hospital, it is very helpful to live longer or to recover sooner. In America, for example, thousands of companion animal programs have been set up in hospitals and nursing homes. The dogs and cats may or may not be part of treatment, but they can help to reduce stress and blood pressure. They can contribute to lowering anxiety and can help some patients to inch forward therapeutic goals. Dogs can be trained to respond to hand signals from stroke patients who cannot talk.
Taking all the reason into consideration why people do want to keep pets, we cannot say "good" so simply, but it is clear we would feel lonley without any companion whoever may be a person or an animal.
Question 1: Do you keep a pet ? or Have you ever ?
Question 2: Why do you think keeping pet is booming ?
Question 3: Could it be possible for animals to heal your feeling of loneliness, vanity, or to share your feeing ?
Question 4: Anything about this topic.