Pets And People

It's often said that pets and their owners look alike, which can be true, but I suspect is more coincidental. It is also said that pets and their owners have matching personalities, and that may have a little more value in considering.

Why does a person have a pet? There is no one answer to that. You could say it is companionship, but even then, what kind of companionship? Dogs tend to be active and playful. Cats tend to be independent. Birds can be active, but remain in a confined space. Reptiles can be played with, but usually more as a toy than as a friend. Fish are largely decoration that moves.

What kind of pet does a person choose? Well, that depend on what they're looking for. An active person may want an active pet, like a dog. They may also want an independent animal that doesn't mind an active owner being out all the time. A person might choose a snake because they can relate to the desire to just spend all day resting on a warm rock, while another may choose the snake because it has to be fed so rarely that they don't need a pet sitter.

I don't like to think that a pet is a window into a person's soul or a reflection of that person as a whole. I do like to think that it is another aspect you can use to study a person and gain a better understanding of them.