Dogs |
Literary references to the dog include those
found in the Bible and in the Greek classic the Odyssey by Homer. In 1576
an English physician and dog fancier, John Caius, wrote a detailed text on dog
breeds, Of English Dogges. Dogs are featured in tapestries that were
created in the Middle Ages (5th century to 15th century), and in the work of
many artists, including 17th- and 18th-century European painters Peter Paul
Rubens and Thomas Gainsborough.
Although it is not known how humans and dogs
first learned to coexist, people soon discovered the many ways dogs could enrich
their lives. Dogs have been used to hunt for food, herd animals, guard livestock
and property, destroy rats and other vermin, pull carts and sleds, perform
rescues, and apprehend lawbreakers. They have been used during wartime as
sentinels and message carriers. Today trained dogs are used to alert deaf people
to common household sounds, such as the ringing telephone or doorbell; guide the
blind; or retrieve objects for quadriplegics. Perhaps the most common of the
many roles served by the domestic dog, however, is that of companion. As animals
with strong social tendencies, dogs typically crave close contact with their
owners. And people tend to form loving bonds with dogs. This companionship often
helps to ease the pain and isolation of the elderly or people whose physical or
mental health requires long-term convalescence or institutionalization.
0 Comments
Thank you !