Dogs are in the class of animals known as Caniformia, which is Latin for “dog-like.” This family’s other members, including raccoons, bears, foxes, and skunks, share dog-like traits. Some theories suggest that dogs evolved from wolves, while others propose that they evolved alongside wolves. Regardless of the circumstances, dogs have managed to warm the hearts of humans worldwide.
Initially, humans allowed dogs to pick the bones clean after they had hunted and enjoyed their meals. Dogs likely followed humans as scavengers at first, providing 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. 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 industry.
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.
Under The Harvest Moon 