Americanslovepets.Anditsnotjustpuppylove,either.Manypetownerstreattheirfurryfriendsaspartofthefamily.Sometimestheyspiceuptheirpetsliveswithentertainingvideosandamusingtoys.Iftheyhaveaneyeforfashion,petownerscandresstheirpetsinstylishclothes.Forspecialoccasions,theycanusecanineperfumetomaketheirdogssmell,well,lessbeastly.YoumightsayAmericanstreattheirpetsliketheytreattheirchildren—sometimesevenbetter.
InAmerica,therearemorehouseholdswithpetsthanthosewithchildren.Atleast43percentofU.S.homeshavepetsofsomesort.Exoticcreatures,suchasmonkeys,snakesandevenwolves,findahomewithsomeAmericans.Morecommonpetsincludetropicalfish,miceandbirds.Buttheall-timefavoritesarecatsanddogs,evenattheWhiteHouse.Americanssometimeshavestrongfeelingsaboutwhetherdogsorcatsmakebetterpets.Dogpeopleandcatpeopleoftenenjoyfriendlyrivalries.
LeadingadogslifeinAmericaisntsuchabadthing.Manygrocerystoressellgourmetpetfoodstoownerseagertopleasetheirpets.InHouston,Texas,dogscanhavetheirdinnerdeliveredtotheirhomes,justlikepizza.Well-to-docaninescanattenddoggydaycarecenterswhiletheirownerswork.Petscanevenaccompanytheirownersonvacation.Fancyhotelsarebeginningtoaccommodatebothmanandbeast.FurryguestsatFourSeasonsHotelscanenjoygourmetmealsservedonfinechinaandsleepinsoftbeds.
Beneaththefluffyluxuries,thereliesabasicAmericanbelief:Petshavearighttobetreatedwell.Atleast75animalwelfareorganizationsexistinAmerica.Theseprovidecareandadoptionservicesforhomelessandabusedanimals.Veterinarianscangiveanimalsanincrediblelevelofmedicalcareforanincredibleprice.Topayforthehigh-techhealthcare,peoplecanbuyhealthinsurancefortheirpets.Andwhenitstimetosaygood-bye,ownerscanb