Examples of animals keeping pets

• Gorilla: The famous gorilla Koko adopted and cared for several pet cats.
• Orangutan: Tonda, an orangutan at a zoo, adopted a stray cat named T.K., and the two remained friends for many years.
• Capuchin monkeys: A group of capuchin monkeys cared for a baby marmoset named Fortunata for over a year, treating her like their own infant by feeding her, carrying her, and “talking” to her.
• Elephant: Tarra the elephant, at an elephant sanctuary, formed a bond with a stray dog named Bella and even watched over her while she was healing from an injury.

Does this mean that non humans animals keep “pets”? More than likely no, as most stories of this type happen in unconventional settings like human controlled habitats and alike.

HUMANS & ANIMALS AS PETS

Humans keep pets for companionship, to fulfill emotional needs, and for a variety of health and social benefits. Pets provide unconditional love and can reduce stress, improve heart health, and help with loneliness. They also offer companionship and social connection, can improve physical and mental health for both children and the elderly, and provide a sense of purpose through caregiving. 

Emotional and social benefits

• Companionship: Pets offer a sense of companionship and combat loneliness, especially for those living alone or the elderly.
• Emotional support: The bond with a pet can provide comfort, reduce stress, and lower anxiety. The act of petting an animal can lower heart rate and blood pressure.
• Improved social connection: Pets can help their owners meet new people and broaden their social circle.
• Nurturing instinct: Caring for a pet can fulfill a human need to nurture. 

Physical health benefits

• Increased exercise: Walking a dog, for example, encourages both the owner and the pet to get physical activity.
• Cardiovascular health: Studies have shown that pet owners have a lower risk for cardiovascular disease and may have less intense reactions to stress.
• Pet therapy: Medically approved therapy animals are used to help patients in hospitals or nursing homes achieve specific goals. 

Other reasons

• Security: Some pets, like dogs, provide a sense of security by alerting their owners to threats.
• For specific roles: Some people keep animals for other purposes, such as working dogs or for breeding and showing specific breeds.
• To help with children’s development: Pets can help children with their emotional, social, and cognitive development. 

Humans are unique on the world landscape in many aspects, but particularly in thier relationship with all of the other species in which we share this space and how we interact with them.