Figure 1.--This Alaskan boy arrived after the malemut here named Missey was a well establish family member. The dog looks on the boy as a pub in the pack. The bond will develop between the two is increadibly close. The mother's name was Laura M. Wilde. The portrait was taken by Alaskan photographer Everett Wilde.

Most American children have had the pleasure of enjoying family pets as children. The relationship between a boy and a dog are part of iconography of boyhood in America and many other countries. Here there are cultural differences. People in the Muslim world, in part because of Koranic verses tend to view dogs as unclean. Dogs in China and other Asian countries are a food item. The custom of children enjoying dogs and cats as oets, however, is deeply developed in the West. Some people acuired pets either as individuals or as childless couples. Very commonly people with children also acquired pers. In terms of children, there were two different types of family pets. The first type was a pet bought after the children had arrived when they began asking for a pet. Often the pets were bought to help teach the child responsibility. The second type was a pet that already was part of the family when the child arrived. Dogs often accept the child as a new member of tghe pact and become very protective.

Created: 3:11 AM 10/31/2008
Last updated: 3:11 AM 10/31/2008