ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the patterns and the effects of early adolescent's involvement in the care of animals and the relationship between that experience and selected family and individual variables. It provides baseline data on early adolescents and animal involvement concerning: species of animals, family income, family relationships, parental views of animal raising, animal owner self-esteem and self-management, and the view of youth on the benefits of animal involvement. Domestication of animals for food and labour as well as for companions has long been established. Humans have had a prolonged interaction with animals from antiquity. Bryant summarized the pervasive influence of animals on language, arts, economic and interpersonal behaviour as well as their laws and observed that the phenomena which he aptly calls the 'zoological connection' deserves increased research attention as an area of social causation. Cultural folk wisdom in America has supported the decisions of families to include pets in the household.
