What animals make the best/worst pets?
Dogs, cats, or parrots are often kept as pets. These animals have natural roles to perform: for instance, dogs as security guards, cats as mouse catchers, and parrots as nature’s gardeners. While dogs are deployed to hunt, shepherd sheep, or safeguard houses, and cats to hunt small rodents and birds, nowadays they are more often treated as companions—or even soulmates—influencing their masters’ lives to a great extent. In some major, affluent cities like those in China, young couples raise dogs or cats as a replacement for having their own children.
Today’s daily prompt asks what animals make the best or worst pets. In my opinion, whether an animal becomes the best or worst pet for its owner depends largely on how the animal is nurtured, treated, and trained by its master—just as how children are taught and treated shapes who they become in adulthood.
In my neighborhood, I see happy dogs and frightened dogs every day. The emotional state of dogs taken for a walk by maids is entirely different from that of dogs taken out by their masters. Those on their masters’ leashes hold their heads and tails high, with grinning faces, whereas those that have likely suffered abuse from previous owners often wear diapers and are shaking and evasive whenever strangers approach them.
Many studies have found that children who were abused can shift from being the abused to becoming the abuser. Affliction breeds affliction; affection nurtures affection. We often say the world is cruel, yet we deny or ignore the fact that we are part of the world, and that all human beings fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Jesus Christ came to set us free from sin, and with the Holy Spirit given to us, we will overcome wickedness.
I once owned an Alsatian dog and several Burmese cats. They were my family and my best friends. My affection for them remains, even after their passing. Since they left, I have not had any other pet, as a way of remembering them. I encourage families with young children to raise dogs, because kids who grow up with dogs can learn about love, care, responsibility, and respect for others. I believe that if they treat animals with kindness and respect, they will treat other people the same way.
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Proverbs 11:24-25, 27
[24] One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
[25] A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
[27] Whoever seeks good finds favour, but evil comes to one who searches for it.
✨✨💖 ~
en yan hua fang 