Pets Around the World
A Cultural Encyclopedia of the Human-Animal Bond
Will be published approx. on 5. March 2026
Book
Hardback
304 pages
979-8-7651-1494-0 (ISBN)
Description
Many of us have been deeply affected by our personal experiences with pets. But companion animals have also had a lasting impact on society.
This book examines the rich cultural significance of pets across the globe and throughout history. A collection of more than 100 encyclopedia entries explores the many ways companion animals have shaped and continue to shape human society, offering a broad yet carefully curated introduction to the topic. Entries include cross-references to related topics, helping readers make connections and build a more robust conceptual framework. Further readings at the end of each entry serve as a gateway to more in-depth study.
For thousands of years, the animals we today think of as pets have filled many roles. They have helped us hunt and farm, provided pest control, served as protectors, and offered us companionship. In fact, some researchers believe that the domestication of the dog was the single innovation that allowed humans to spread across the globe. Given the varied and vital roles they've played, it's no surprise that pets have had an enormous impact on society and culture. From the ancient Egyptian practice of mummifying cats because they were considered guardians of the underworld to the 21st-century phenomenon of throwing a birthday party for your pet, discover the many cultural facets of the human-animal bond.
This book examines the rich cultural significance of pets across the globe and throughout history. A collection of more than 100 encyclopedia entries explores the many ways companion animals have shaped and continue to shape human society, offering a broad yet carefully curated introduction to the topic. Entries include cross-references to related topics, helping readers make connections and build a more robust conceptual framework. Further readings at the end of each entry serve as a gateway to more in-depth study.
For thousands of years, the animals we today think of as pets have filled many roles. They have helped us hunt and farm, provided pest control, served as protectors, and offered us companionship. In fact, some researchers believe that the domestication of the dog was the single innovation that allowed humans to spread across the globe. Given the varied and vital roles they've played, it's no surprise that pets have had an enormous impact on society and culture. From the ancient Egyptian practice of mummifying cats because they were considered guardians of the underworld to the 21st-century phenomenon of throwing a birthday party for your pet, discover the many cultural facets of the human-animal bond.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
Laminated cover
Illustrations
24 bw
Dimensions
Height: 254 mm
Width: 178 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
667 gr
ISBN-13
979-8-7651-1494-0 (9798765114940)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Margo DeMello is Assistant Professor in the anthrozoology program at Carroll College, Helena, Montana, USA. She is the author of many books, including Bigfoot to Mothman: A Global Encyclopedia of Legendary Beasts and Monsters (Bloomsbury, 2024),, the second edition of Animals and Society: An Introduction to Human-Animal Studies (2021), and Mourning Animals: Rituals and Practices Surrounding Animal Death (2016).
Content
Preface
Introduction
Adults and Pets
Advertising, Pets in
Affection and Control
Africa, Pets in
Allergies
Animal Cafes
Animal Protection Movement
Animal Welfare Act
Anthropomorphism
Art, Pets in
Arthropods
Attachment
Australia and New Zealand, Pets in
Birds
Bond, Human-Animal
Breeds, Popularity of
Canada, Pets in
Capitalism, Pets and
Cat Shows
Cats
Cemeteries, Pet
Children and Pets
China, Pets in
Classroom Pets
Communication, Human-Pet
Communism, Pets and
Community, Pets and
COVID-19
Cruelty
Diplomacy and Pets
Disability, Pets and
Dog Breeding and Eugenics
Dog Shows
Dogs
Domestication
Elite Pet Keeping
Empathy
Equines
Ethics of Pet Ownership
Ethnicity, Pets and
Europe, Pets in
Exotic Pets
Facility Pets
Family, Pets as
Fancy Clubs
Farm Animals as Pets
Film, Pets in
Fish
Free-Roaming Cats
Free-Roaming Dogs
Gender, Pets and
Grief and Pet Loss
Health Risks of Pet Ownership
Healthcare Spending on Pets
History of Pet Keeping: 20th and 21st Centuries
History of Pet Keeping: Ancient Classical World
History of Pet Keeping: Middle Ages
History of Pet Keeping: Prehistory
History of Pet Keeping: Renaissance
History of Pet Keeping: Victorian Era
Hoarding
Holocaust, Pets during the
Homelessness, Pet Ownership and
Housing Restrictions and Pet Ownership
Human Health, Pets and
Humane Societies
Immigration, Pets and
India, Pets in
Indigenous Pet Keeping
Influencers, Pet
Internet, Pets on the
Japan, Pets in
Language, Pets and
Latin America, Pets in
Laws and Regulations
Link between Animal and Human Abuse
Literature, Pets in
Mental Health, Pets and
Middle East, Pets in
Natural Disasters and Pets
Neglect
Pet Death Industry
Pet Food
Pet Industry
Pigs
Pocket Pets
Presidential Pets
Puppy Mills
Rabbits
Religious Institutions, Pets and
Reptiles
Rescue Groups
Robotic Pets
Rodents
Russia, Pets in
Safe Havens
Sanctuaries
Selective Breeding
Shelters
Social Capital, Pets and
Socialization, Pets and
Socioeconomic Class, Pets and
Status Pets
Television, Pets on
Therapy Pet
Trends in Pet Ownership
United Kingdom, Pets in
United States, Pets in
Veterinary Care
Virtual Pets
War, Pets and
Zoonoses
Index
About the Author
Introduction
Adults and Pets
Advertising, Pets in
Affection and Control
Africa, Pets in
Allergies
Animal Cafes
Animal Protection Movement
Animal Welfare Act
Anthropomorphism
Art, Pets in
Arthropods
Attachment
Australia and New Zealand, Pets in
Birds
Bond, Human-Animal
Breeds, Popularity of
Canada, Pets in
Capitalism, Pets and
Cat Shows
Cats
Cemeteries, Pet
Children and Pets
China, Pets in
Classroom Pets
Communication, Human-Pet
Communism, Pets and
Community, Pets and
COVID-19
Cruelty
Diplomacy and Pets
Disability, Pets and
Dog Breeding and Eugenics
Dog Shows
Dogs
Domestication
Elite Pet Keeping
Empathy
Equines
Ethics of Pet Ownership
Ethnicity, Pets and
Europe, Pets in
Exotic Pets
Facility Pets
Family, Pets as
Fancy Clubs
Farm Animals as Pets
Film, Pets in
Fish
Free-Roaming Cats
Free-Roaming Dogs
Gender, Pets and
Grief and Pet Loss
Health Risks of Pet Ownership
Healthcare Spending on Pets
History of Pet Keeping: 20th and 21st Centuries
History of Pet Keeping: Ancient Classical World
History of Pet Keeping: Middle Ages
History of Pet Keeping: Prehistory
History of Pet Keeping: Renaissance
History of Pet Keeping: Victorian Era
Hoarding
Holocaust, Pets during the
Homelessness, Pet Ownership and
Housing Restrictions and Pet Ownership
Human Health, Pets and
Humane Societies
Immigration, Pets and
India, Pets in
Indigenous Pet Keeping
Influencers, Pet
Internet, Pets on the
Japan, Pets in
Language, Pets and
Latin America, Pets in
Laws and Regulations
Link between Animal and Human Abuse
Literature, Pets in
Mental Health, Pets and
Middle East, Pets in
Natural Disasters and Pets
Neglect
Pet Death Industry
Pet Food
Pet Industry
Pigs
Pocket Pets
Presidential Pets
Puppy Mills
Rabbits
Religious Institutions, Pets and
Reptiles
Rescue Groups
Robotic Pets
Rodents
Russia, Pets in
Safe Havens
Sanctuaries
Selective Breeding
Shelters
Social Capital, Pets and
Socialization, Pets and
Socioeconomic Class, Pets and
Status Pets
Television, Pets on
Therapy Pet
Trends in Pet Ownership
United Kingdom, Pets in
United States, Pets in
Veterinary Care
Virtual Pets
War, Pets and
Zoonoses
Index
About the Author