title: The evolution of domestic pets and companion animals.
abstract: The process of domestication, which began 12,000 years ago, before the beginnings of agriculture, continues as humans and domestic animals coexist, interact, and profoundly influence the shape of each other's social spaces. Although its beginnings were simple, this process has become increasingly complex. Attention to relationships between humans and companion animals commonly focuses on dogs and cats; however, companion animals and pets take various shapes in numerous places with and have diverse, overlapping functions and specializations.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002415:Cats; D004285:Dogs; D004463:Ecology; D001841:Human-Animal Bond; D006801:Humans; D009769:Object Attachment