Americans love pets. Many pet owners see their pets as a part of the family. They treat (对 待) their pets as their children—sometimes even better.
In America, there are more families with pets than those with children. 43 percent of U. S.
homes have pets. Some of the pets are exotic (奇异的) , such as monkeys, snakes, butterflies and even wolves. Those animals come from other countries, especially China, Thailand, South Africa and so on. More common pets are fish, mice and birds. However, their favorite pets are cats and dogs. They sometimes have strong feelings about whether dogs or cats make better pets. "Dog people" and "cat people" often have friendly discussions about that.
People can get many benefits (好处) from pets. Pets stay with people, make people happy and help people not feel lonely. So, most of Americans like pets. They think pets should be treated well. At least 75 animal welfare (福利) organizations have been set up in America. They give care and good services to homeless animals. Some pets can help people live a better life. For example, dogs can offer protection from strange visitors. Cats can play games with the children. Some kinds of pets can give love to their owners. In fact, to keep a pet can help a young couple ( 夫妇) know how to raise children better. Pets are as basic ( 基本 的) to U. S. culture as hot dogs or apple pies. To Americans, pets are a part of the family.
