Animals seem to return the affection shown to them by their humans.

Animal love or Animal friendship is the affection and caring towards animals. Some animal lovers care for stray animals they find. Many animal lovers keep one or more pets, though an animal lover might object to being called a "pet owner". ImageMetadata File history File links Man_and_dog. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Man_and_dog. ... A picture of a man with a domesticated dog A pet is an animal that is kept (mostly by humans) for companionship and enjoyment, as opposed to livestock, which are kept for economic reasons. ...

Though in English the word is used in a totally different way, the greek word 'Zoophilia' translates literally as 'animal love' -- and in Greek language it has the notion of animal friendship, and no connotation of bestiality is implied. Leda and the Swan, a 16th century copy after a lost painting by Michelangelo, 1530 (National Gallery, London) Zoophilia (from the Greek Zoon, animal, and Philia, friendship or love) is a paraphilia, defined as an affinity or sexual attraction by a human to non-human animals. ... This topic contains controversial issues which have been discussed and a consensus reached for approach and neutrality. ...

Animal lovers are often conservationists; environmentalists; or Vegan/vegetarians. Usually these properties are related, each inspired from the other: One can love animals out of a general respect for nature and environment, or become a vegetarian or conservationist out of one's love for animals. Conservationists are those people who tend to more highly rank the wise use of the Earths resources and ecosystems. ... Environmentalism is activism aimed at improving the environment, particularly nature. ... Hens kept in cramped conditions — the avoidance of animal suffering is the primary motivation of people who become vegans A vegan is a person who avoids the ingestion or use of animal products. ... For animals adapted to eat primarily plants, sometimes referred to as vegetarian animals, see Herbivore. ...

Famous animal lovers include Michael Jackson and Brigitte Bardot. St. Francis of Assisi is considered the patron of animal love. Michael Jackson in 1992. ... Brigitte Bardot Brigitte Bardot (born September 28, 1934 in Paris) is a French actress and model, daughter of an industrialist. ... Saint Francis of Assisi (born in Assisi, Italy, ca. ...

See also

Animal rights, Animal welfare The Great Ape Project is campaigning for a Declaration on Great Apes. ... Animal welfare is the viewpoint that some or all animals, especially those under human care, should be treated in such a way that they do not suffer unnecessarily. ...