Before the concept of pets was widely embraced in American society, the life for animals was markedly different from the pampered existence many domesticated animals enjoy today. In the time before animals were kept for companionship and love, their roles in the lives of humans were largely utilitarian.
Wild animals lived a natural life governed by the ecosystem and food chain dynamics, with little to no human intervention. Native peoples might have understood and respected the spirit and roles of animals in nature, but there was not an equivalent to the modern-day pet-owner relationship.
Animals that had been domesticated served distinct purposes based on their species. Dogs, for example, were often used for hunting, herding livestock, or guarding property rather than being kept primarily as companions. Cats played a role in pest control, valued for their ability to hunt mice and rats that threatened food stores rather than as members of the household for emotional support or entertainment.
Livestock such as cattle, horses, pigs, sheep, and chickens were raised mainly for their practical uses – food (meat and dairy), transportation, labor (such as plowing fields), and clothing materials (from hides and wool). These animals were considered important assets, with care provided primarily to maintain their health and productivity rather than from a place of emotional attachment.
Working animals frequently endured harsh conditions; many plow horses led strenuous lives under tough conditions with minimal care beyond what was necessary to maintain their ability to work. Similarly, other animals suffered suboptimal living conditions due to a lack of understanding of animal welfare needs or through neglect due to the prioritization of human needs and economic constraints.
In general, the parameters that defined good treatment or care for an animal were based upon efficiency and survival rather than the comfort or happiness that is often considered today. It wasn’t until later on that movements towards humane treatment began to emerge, paralleling shifts in social attitudes about animals as sentient beings worthy of kindness and compassion.
The culture shift towards loving pets likely commenced with changing economic structures and philosophies that allowed people to see animals not just as workers or tools but as beings capable of offering love, comfort, closure, companionsity therapy which stimulated a deeper understanding and connection between humans and non-human animals — laying the groundwork for the deeply affectionate pet culture present in America today.
