As of 2017, 55 percent of American households included at least one pet. Pets are ubiquitous and often considered part of the family, but are they content in a domestic setting? Is there a way for us to tell if we are giving pets a suitable standard of living? Many factors must be considered when looking at the ethics of pet ownership, including what rights animals should possess, where the animals come from, and what species of animals should be kept as pets. Readers will gain a better understanding of the many ethical considerations surrounding pet ownership.

Pets of all kinds provide numerous benefits for people / FEDIAF -- The domestication of animals and its impact / Sylvia Kaiser, Michael B. Hennessy, and Norbert Sachser -- Pets aren't that happy--Is is selfish or wrong to keep animals as pets? / Melissa Dahl -- Avoid puppy mills and backyard breeders when getting a pet dog or cat / Paws, Inc. -- For many reasons, people should no longer keep pets / Linda Rodriguez McRobbie -- Poaching ahd the illegal wildlife trade must be stopped ? US Department of State -- Puppy mills are puppy breeding prissons / american Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals -- Finding a good dog breeder is possible / Your Dog's Friend -- Puppy mills, past and present / Ivy Collier -- Animal shelters: to kill or not to kill? / Julie Zack Yaste -- Not all shelter animals can or will be adopted / Greg Allen -- Wild animals should not become exotic pets--it is risky and dangerous / Born Free USA -- The exotic pet trade depletes wild populations and damages ecosystems / Rob Laidlaw -- Effective strategies to combat the wildlife trade / The White House -- Wild animals should be wild, not forced to be pets / The Humane Society of the United States -- Contact with animals can also harm humans/ / Claire Asher.