The domestication of animals has been going on for a very, very long time. From archeological and other evidence, it is widely believed that the first attempts at domestication of both animals and plants were made by tribes as early as 9000 BC. In what is known as the Upper Paleolithic Era (between 40,000 and 10,000 years ago), the dog became the first animal to be domesticated, followed shortly thereafter by other animals such as the cow, sheep, pig and cow as the trade of farming became more and more prevalent. 

Since their domestication, animals have been used in therapy, as guides for the blind, etc. and have become an exceedingly important part of our culture. As can be seen from the following statistics, many U.S. households have been impacted by owning pets. Research and experience have shown that pet ownership can

• Reduce stress
• Aid in both physical and psychological healing
• Help children to develop more empathy
• Improve self-esteem, particularly in young children and youth
• Provide a source of entertainment and/or socialization

• According to recent (2010) statistics from the American Veterinary Medical Association, about 63 percent of all U.S. households have a pet.
• The above statistic includes about 75 million dogs and about 85 million cats.
• The average cost of basic food, supplies, medical care and training for a dog or cat is $700 to $875 annually.
• Domesticated cats and dogs generally live longer, healthier lives than strays. 
• Five out of ten dogs in shelters and seven out of ten cats in shelters are destroyed simply because there is no one to adopt them.

 

Evan Ratliff, “Taming the Wild: Designing the Perfect Pet: Can a fox become man’s best friend?” National Geographic, March 2011, pp. 34-59.

 

OVERVIEW

We tend to take our relationship to pets somewhat for granted. We seldom consider the history and evolution of wild animals to their treasured place as pets (often pampered, usually respected, but sometimes terribly abused). The above three-fold title of this article signifies its contents—having to do with history, genetics, selection, and breeding.

The exercise of (human) dominion over plants and animals is arguably the most consequential event in human history. Along with cultivated agriculture, the ability to raise and manage domesticated fauna—of which wolves were likely first, but chickens, cattle, and other food species the most important—altered the human diet, paving the way for settlements and eventually nation-states to flourish.

By putting humans in close contact with animals, domestication also created vectors for the diseases that shaped society.

Out of 148 large mammal species on Earth, why have no more than 15 ever been domesticated? Why have we been able to tame and breed horses for thousands of years, but never their close relative the zebra, despite numerous attempts? (p. 43)

Most of us are aware that stranded animal cubs adopted at birth by human caretakers, can bond with their trainers—throughout their lives. But their offspring at birth revert to their wild state and do not continue the domestication process. Wild animals used in circuses and movies have been adopted and trained by specialists—a few of whom have been killed, when by accident the animal bites too hard, or from sudden instinctual outbursts, attacks a trainer.

Among many other interesting features of this article is an exception to this principle—of offspring of tamed animals reverting to wild state. It is the story of researchers in Siberia, who (despite political and Russian psychological resistance and prohibitions) were able to study genetic implications in successful attempts to domesticate the Russian silver fox. The breeding process was based on selectivity according to just one characteristic: friendliness to humans.

The experiments began in 1959. After selection of the friendliest of the litter, by 1962, the second generation, trainers had achieved “Approachability: aggressive response to humans starts to disappear.” By the fourth generation of foxes in 1964, “Tail Wagging appeared for the first time: some kits (pups) wag tails and approach human beings. Kits would wimper and allow themselves to be petted and carried.” By the sixth generation in 1966, Full Affinity had been reached. “When let out of cage, friendliest kits would follow humans and lick them.” (Some results of this experiment are pets in wealthy Russian homes where they intermingle with dogs of regular breeds.)

Perhaps even more surprising, morphological changes paralleled the behavioral development above. Ears of the kits remained floppy for up to three months. Instead of solid colors, spotted fur was noticed. Their tails instead of pointing down began to curl up, then became shorter and puffier, and in some cases vertebrae were missing, shortening the backs of domesticated foxes. (p. 42)

A researcher visiting the Institute of Cytology and Genetics in Novosibirsk, Siberia, knew the foxes had been chosen only on the basis of friendliness to humans and concluded: “They didn’t select for a smarter fox but for a nice fox. But they ended up getting a smart fox.” In interacting with humans the foxes had picked up and interpreted human social cues. (p. 58)

Part of this article contains brief information on the domestication of wild cats—estimated as some 5 thousand years after that of the wolf, and 10 thousand years ago. It is posited that cats domesticated themselves, drawn to the rats around human dwellings. A picture in this article shows feral cats roaming the streets of Baltimore. My sister-in-law in California took in some wild feral cats and was gradually able, at certain times, to approach them—something they would not allow to other humans. After some years in the wash-room, they now live under the deck and interact somewhat with the home’s domesticated cat and dog.

The fox farm in Siberia is applying for permits to sell surplus, tame foxes as pets, in Russia and abroad. This would bring income for resolution of further genetic and breeding questions.

 

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

1. Do you agree that humans need to better understand and respect our relations with wild and domesticated animals?

2. What brought you to this article? What did you find most interesting or helpful?

3. Do you agree that the domestication of wild animals was a momentous stride in human history? Is there anything to learn from the history of human relations to animals?

4. How important do you consider “animal rights”? Is the treatment or mistreatment of animals more important for you than the mistreatment of human beings around the world?

5. Is the treatment of animals eaten in hamburgers as important as the way we treat our pets? Are you, or would you consider becoming, a vegetarian to save the slaughter of livestock?

6. What questions for further study and discussion does this article raise for you?

IMPLICATIONS

1. Animals are tremendously important to human life and civilization. Meat is a significant part in the diets of most of the world’s 6 billion—as controversial as this fact is. Pets offer significant companionship and benefits to many in the world. Seeing-eye and therapeutic dogs are changing the lives of many.

2. Many desperately lonely people have only the friendship of their pets. Most have found their animal friends to be a source of love.

3. As cruelty to animals is a significant early clue to later serial killers, so children can learn lessons of kindness and responsibility with their pets.

4. Animal therapy on farms or residential treatment homes are a beginning in the rehabilitation of those with addictions or anti-social characteristics. 

5. People of faith see in the story of creation, a divine mandate for good stewardship of the earth’s environment—its flora and fauna.

 

Dean Borgman cCYS