Americanslovepets.InAmerica,therearemorefamilieswithpetsthanthosewithchildren.（在美国，养宠物的比养孩子的都多）YoumightsayAmericanstreattheirpetsliketheytreattheirchildren—sometimesevenbetter.Atleast43%ofAmericanfamilieshavepets.Thecommonpetsincludemiceandbirds.Butthefavoritearecatsanddogs.Americanssometimeshavestrongfeelingsaboutpets.
Livingadog’slifeinAmericaisn’tsuchabadthing.ItissaidthatAmericansspendabout$1.5billiononpetfoodeachyear.Manygrocerystores(杂货店)sellpetfoods.InthecityofHouston,Texas,dogscanhavetheirdinnerssenttotheirhomes,justlikepizza.Petscanevenaccompany(陪同)theirownersonvacation.Furry(毛茸茸的)guestsatFourSeasonsHotelscanenjoydeliciousmealsservedonfinechinaandsleepinsoftbeds.Topayfortheirhealthcare,peoplecanbuyhealthinsurance(保险)fortheirpets.
It’seasytoseewhypetsaresopopular.Dogscanofferprotectionfromunwelcomevisitors.Catscanhelppeoplekeeptheunwantedpests(有害的小动物)awayfromthehouse.Petscanevenmaketheirownerskindandfriendlytoothers.Somewhite-collars(白领人士)feelthattheyspendallthedaytimeonthehardworkandthenighttimeshouldbefunandrelaxing.Thepetscoulddoboth.Evensomeparentswillbuyapetfortheirchildrenbecausemostchildrentodayareonlychildinthefamily.
PetsareasbasictoAmericancultureashotdogsorapplepie.ToAmericans,petsarenotjustproperty(财产),butapartofthefamily.