Page 154 - DK Children's Encyclopedia

The story of...

Pets

Pets have become an important part of humans’ lives.
Many animals are kept as companions, for work, or to

help people go about their daily lives. It is estimated
that 44 percent of homes in the world have a pet.

Pets
Canaan dog
big and small
Pets aren’t just dogs and
cats—we keep all sorts of
animals as pets. They vary from
big dogs and horses to small
snakes and hamsters. Each
species needs a special diet
First pets and room to exercise.
Dogs were the first animals
to be kept as pets. They were
used for hunting—helping early
humans to catch food. Ancient
art from 12,000 years ago Dog
shows humans and
dogs together.

Bronze statue Bearded dragon
of a cat from
ancient Egypt

Holy cats Goldfish
The ancient Egyptians
loved cats. They caught mice,
rats, and snakes, which kept
people’s homes clean. Cats were
also believed to have special
powers for guarding children.
The punishment for killing Hamster
a cat was death.

Gerbil

Snake

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