pet is an animal kept for companionship and enjoyment or a household animal,
as opposed to wild animals or to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals
or sport animals, which are kept for economic or productive reasons. The most
popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful characteristics, for their
attractive appearance, or for their song. Pets also generally seem to provide
their owners with non-trivial health benefits;[1] keeping pets has been shown to
help relieve stress to those who like having animals around. There is now a
medically-approved class of "therapy animals," mostly dogs, that are brought to
visit confined humans. Walking a dog can provide both the owner and the dog with
exercise, fresh air, and social interaction.