Thankful For My Dog Day – November 23, 2024

History of Thankful For My Dog Day

Dogs are in the class of animals known as Caniformia, which is Latin for “dog-like.” Other members of this family including raccoons, bears, foxes, and skunks share dog-like traits. Some theories state that dogs evolved from wolves, while others say they evolved along with wolves. Whatever the case, dogs have managed to warm the hearts of humans all over the world.

In the beginning, humans allowed dogs to pick the bones clean after they had hunted and enjoyed their meals. It is likely that dogs followed humans as scavengers at first, and provided a service that they still give us today — protection. They grew tamer with each generation until they became permanent companions. From here, humans certainly domesticated both dogs and gray wolves, keeping them as pets. And for more than 12,000 years, dogs have lived with humans as protectors, hunting companions, objects of scorn or adoration, and buddies.

Today, dogs are regarded differently in various regions of the world. In Western society, people highly value dogs because of their characteristics of friendship, protectiveness, loyalty, and affection. The United States and Europe have seen the care of dogs grow into a multibillion-dollar business.

Dogs are also widely used in animal-assisted therapy. This type of treatment helps to relieve anxiety, pain, and depression in people with a range of mental or physical health problems. However, in some of the developing nations and many regions of Asia, dogs are not treated with love. They are used for protection, as beasts of burden, or even for food.