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| DOGS & CATS
The dog
(Canis lupus familiaris) is a domesticated form of the wolf, a member
of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both
feral and pet varieties. The domestic dog has been one of the most
widely kept working and companion animals in human history. The word
"dog" may also mean the male of a canine species, as opposed to the
word "bitch" for the female of the species. The
dog quickly became ubiquitous across culture across the world, and was
extremely valuable to early human settlements. For instance, it is
believed that the successful emigration across the Bering Strait might
not have been possible without sled dogs. Dogs perform many roles for
people, such as hunting, herding, protection, assisting police and
military, companionship, and, more recently, aiding handicapped
individuals. This versatility, more than almost any other known animal,
has given them the nickname "Man's best friend" in the western world.
Currently, there are estimated to be 400 million dogs in the world.
The cat
(Felis catus), also known as the domestic cat or housecat to
distinguish it from other felines and felids, is a small domesticated
carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and
its ability to hunt vermin and household pests. Cats have been
associated with humans for at least 9,500 years, and are currently the
most popular pet in the world. Due to their close association with
humans, cats are now found almost everywhere on Earth. This extreme
adaptability and their worrying impacts on native animals has led to
them being classed as an invasive species. Most of these problems are
caused by the large number of feral cats worldwide, with a population
of up to 60 million of these animals in the United States alone.
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