PASSAGE 1: Few things in life are as rewarding and fulfilling as owning a pet. Whether it’s a dog, cat, bird, or fish, the appeal is the same—years of fun and unconditional love. Indeed, pets can actually satisfy many of the things people crave most: companionship, communication, loyalty, and plenty of amusement. Perhaps that’s why pets are so popular among the elderly and people who live alone. As human relationships grow more complex with each new technological gadget, the simple bond between a pet and its owner offers a refreshing and comforting reprieve.
PASSAGE 2: In addition to protesting reprehensible practices like fur trapping and animal testing, animal rights groups have begun to attack owners of cats and dogs for keeping animals “imprisoned” in the home. Finally, these groups have started to make the justified comparison of owning a pet to keeping a domesticated animal like a sheep or a cow. Both pet ownership and domestication of animals stem from the same cruel source: human selfishness. No animal should be kept confined solely for the benefit of human beings, whether that benefit comes in the form of meat, leather, or the companionship of a pet.