World Pet Day 2022
World Pet Day is celebrated annually all over the world. The most popular pets in Europe are cats, dogs, small animals such as ferrets, chinchillas, rabbits, hamsters, parrots or other bird species - each person probably has their preferences for the animal that should live with them in their close environment.
Other countries, other cultures, also applies to the keeping of pets. In North and South America, dogs are very popular, Asians keep fish and in Turkey, birds are a popular pet.
Pet keeping can also have other backgrounds. For example, guinea pigs, which are beloved in Europe, are considered a delicacy in Peru. As everyone knows, dogs and cats in southern countries such as Greece, Italy, Spain or Romania do not lead such an easy and harmless life, because there they usually do not have a permanent home, roam the streets, do not have enough to eat and fall ill with life-threatening diseases.
Pets make you happy
The pet fashion spread with the onset of industrialisation. Horse-drawn carts disappeared more and more and were gradually replaced by the car, the autobus or the train. People moved from the country to the city, where it was not possible to keep a cow, a pig or something like that in a small garden. Dogs and cats were supposed to maintain the connection to nature. Pets make people happy because they are life companions and family members. The feeling of loneliness is dispelled with a pet. Is there a better comforter than faithful, loving dog eyes? Above all, dogs are seen as sympathy carriers and contact promoters. People get into conversation without a prior appointment - simply while walking the dog. Animals are a miracle cure without side effects for stress-ridden people. Petting, cuddling or simply watching the animals have a calming, stress-reducing effect on humans.
Man's unloved best friends
Over 6,000 rescued animals live at Gut Aiderbichl. Many were loved and were family members, they were good cows in the dairy industry, great breeding bulls, used in competitive sports, ran in the circus ring or, like our ex-lab monkeys, lived in a cage for medical research purposes. Dogs, cats, donkeys, horses, ponies - they all gave pleasure and they trusted humans.
Stray dogs or those that could no longer live with their former owners for various reasons became part of our family. The Aiderbichl cats also have similar biographies: once loved, but for various reasons a new home became necessary.
Animals are fellow creatures, they trust humans, are their best friend and life companion. They can expect respect and love until the end.