Americans love pets. And it's not just puppy love， either. Many pet owners treat their furry friends as part of the family. Sometimes they spice up their pets' lives with entertaining videos and amusing toys. If they have an eye for fashion， pet owners can dress their pets in stylish clothes. For special occasions， they can use canine perfume to make their dogs smell， well， less beastly. You might say Americans treat their pets like they treat their children-sometimes even better.

In America， there are more households with pets than those with children. At least 43 percent of U.S. homes have pets of some sort. Exotic creatures， such as monkeys， snakes and even wolves， find a home with some Americans. More common pets include tropical fish， mice and birds. But the all-time favorites are cats and dogs， even at the White House. The Clintons' cat， Socks， has replaced the Bushes' dog， Millie， as reigning First Pet. Americans sometimes have strong feelings about whether dogs or cats make better pets. \"Dog people\" and \"cat people\" often enjoy friendly rivalries.

Leading a dog's life in America isn't such a bad thing. Many grocery stores sell gourmet pet foods to owners eager to please their pets. In Houston， Texas， dogs can have their dinner delivered to their homes， just like pizza. Well-to-do canines can attend doggy daycare centers while their owners work. Pets can even accompany their owners on vacation. Fancy hotels are beginning to accommodate both man and beast. Furry guests at Four Seasons Hotels can enjoy gourmet meals served on fine china and sleep in soft beds.

Beneath the fluffy luxuries， there lies a basic American belief: Pets have a right to be treated well. At least 75 animal welfare organizations exist in America. These provide care and adoption services for homeless and abused animals. Veterinarians can give animals an incredible level of medical care for an incredible price. To pay for the high-tech health care， people can buy health insurance for their pets. And when it's time to say good-bye， owners can bury their pets in a respectable pet cemetery.

The average American enjoys having pets around， and for good reason. Researchers have discovered that interacting with animals lowers a person's blood pressure. Dogs can offer protection from burglars and unwelcome visitors. Cats can help rid the home of unwanted pests. Little creatures of all shapes and sizes can provide companionship and love. In many cases， having a pet prepares a young couple for the responsibilities of parenthood. Pets even encourage social relationships: They give their owners an appearance of friendliness， and they provide a good topic of conversation.

Pets are as basic to American culture as hot dogs or apple pie. To Americans， pets are not just property， but a part of the family. After all， pets are people， too.

美國人很愛寵物，而且這不只是一種不成熟、短暫的愛。很多寵物的主人把這些毛茸茸的朋友當作家庭的一部分，有時候還為寵物準備娛樂用的錄像帶和玩具來增添他們生活的樂趣，如果寵物的主人具有流行的眼光，還會讓他們的寵物穿上時髦的衣服，在特殊的場合里，甚至為寵物噴上狗兒專用的香水，讓他們味道好聞一點，減少一些動物身上的味道。你也可以說，美國人待他們的寵物如同待他們的孩子一樣——有時甚至更好。

在美國，有寵物的家庭比有孩子的家庭還多。至少百分之四十三的美國家庭有寵物，有些美國家庭養一些外國品種的動物，例如猴子、蛇、甚至狼；比較常見的寵物有熱帶魚、老鼠、和鳥。不過，一直廣受歡迎的是貓和狗，連白宮也不例外。柯林頓總統的貓--襪子，已經取代了布什的狗--米利，成為神氣的「第一寵物」。美國人有時候很在乎到底最好的寵物是貓還是狗，「愛狗的人」和「愛貓的人」喜歡開玩笑地彼此爭辯。

在美國，狗所過的生活并不壞，很多雜貨店都賣有寵物美食，讓主人可以討好他們的寵物。在德州的休斯敦市，狗兒還能享用專程送到家的晚餐，就跟比薩一樣。家境富裕的狗兒在主人上班的時候可以去狗兒托育中心。寵物甚至可以和他們的主人一同去度假，高級飯店已經開始可以同時留宿人和寵物，這些毛茸茸的客人在四季飯店可以享用以精致瓷器盛裝的美食，并在柔軟的床上睡覺。

在舒適奢華的享受之下，其實存在著美國人的一種基本信念：寵物有受到妥善對待的權利。美國至少有七十五個動物福利組織，他們為流浪動物及被虐待動物提供照顧與領養的服務。獸醫能提供給動物極好的醫療照顧--價格也極昂貴，若為了負擔更先進的健康醫療照顧，人們可以為他們的寵物買健康保險。如果和寵物道別的時機到了，主人們可以為寵物買一塊體面的墓地。

美國人一般都喜歡有寵物為伴，這是有原因的。研究人員發現，與動物為伍能夠降低人的血壓。狗能防止小偷及不受歡迎的訪客。貓能幫忙清除家里討人厭的害蟲和有害的小動物。任何種類及大小的小寵物都能帶給人們相伴與愛的感覺。很多時候，擁有一只寵物能幫助年輕夫妻做為人父母責任的準備。寵物甚至有助于人際關系：它們使主人們看起來更友善，并且也帶給人們一個交談的好話題。

寵物是美國文化中很基本的一部分，就如熱狗和蘋果派一樣。對美國人而言，寵物不僅僅是他們所擁有的一樣東西而已，它是家庭的一部分。畢竟，寵物也是「人」啊！