I think pets are just as important in our lives as the people we live with or interract with on a regular basis.
They listen when we need to talk. They calm us when we are frightened or upset. They need us and appreciate what we do for them. It has been proven that we heal faster and and have less anxiety when there are pets around. I think it speaks volumes when someone has much love for animals.

Some people do not see this. They feel a dog should be tied up on a chain as a barking intruder alarm. This sickens me. Why people get dogs and chain them out, just throwing some food and water their way (and some don't even do that on a regular basis) is completely beyond me. I've known people who are cat haters and think it is funny to make jokes on how to kill cats. My friend has 3 horses...before she bought her own land and had them boarded, she spoke of several horses whose people never came out to see them...they just paid the stables to take care of them. Was this some sort of status symbol? 'Oh, I have a horse!' The horses needed to have attention from 'them', not just the other horse owners or stable owners.
Why people take part in dog fighting and cock fighting is another example. It only takes a couple of episodes of Animal Presinct on Animal Planet to see there is a complete opposite end of the spectrum. For every animal lover, there is someone who is not so compassionate.

We, who love animals and have compassion for them are blessed. The others do not know what they are missing.