Makewetalknow

The custom of keeping pets in homes has a sinister history, despite the general perception that it is harmless. Interestingly, no prophets are mentioned in the Bible as having pets at home. What many do not know is that the first person to domesticate a pet was Cain, the stepson of Adam.

After Cain’s infamous murder of his half-brother Abel, God cursed him and expelled him. According to the Legends of the Jews, by Rabbi Louis Ginzberg, God took pity on Cain and gifted him with a dog to serve as his guardian. Other ancient texts that support this story include the Book of Jasher and the Talmud. According to these sources, Cain was the first human to own a dog.

God gave Cain the dog not to domesticate it, but to protect him from those who might attack him after his brother died. However, because of his inherent evil nature, Cain chose to domesticate it. This practice eventually became ingrained in the cultures of Cain and his descendant. Even when the Creator instructed Noah to bring two kinds of animals on the ark, the animals were kept in separate rooms or compartments from the humans (Genesis 6:14-16).

Read more: The Pagan Origin of White Weddings and Birthday Celebrations

Following the flood, the practice of keeping pets at home was continued. According to Jewish legends, Naamah, Cain’s granddaughter, played an important role in this preservation. She is said to have introduced some aspects of Cainites Tradition to the post-flood environment.

Thousands of years later, as a result of the Canaanites and Ham, the practice of having pets in the home has spread across cultures. The Ancient Egyptians were known for keeping their animals domesticated and even taking it to the next level.

In fact, cats were considered gods in Ancient Egypt, closely related to the goddesses Sekhmet and Bastet. Egyptians believed cats had supernatural abilities such as shape-shifting and protection from evil spirits. They kept various animals as pets and incorporated them into their spiritual and everyday lives.

Animals were also domesticated and thought to have supernatural powers in Celtic and Druidic cultures. Certain animals, such as toads, were associated with particular characteristics, such as fertility and rebirth. The link between animals and supernatural powers was reinforced in ancient Greek and Roman mythology.

Certain animals were also associated with witchcraft and sorcery in Medieval Europe, leading to persecution of those who believed their animals helped witches. These pagan beliefs persisted and influenced modern spiritual practices such as Wicca.

Today, the majority of people who appear to like the idea of having animals at home are Caucasians and some Asians. It is technically difficult to find someone in Africa who has a pet at home.

Pet ownership varies by demographic: 67% of Caucasian households own pets, followed by 51% of Asian households, and 37% of African American households. In the UK, cats edge out dogs, with 26% of households owning a cat, and 24% owning a dog. Across the pond, roughly 63.8 million households in the US have at least one pet. Cities like Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Downers Grove, Illinois, and San Rafael, California, are pet owner havens, boasting pet-friendly amenities and services.

Because the practice of keeping animals at home was not ordained by God, there have been numerous reports of people losing their lives as a result of having pet animals. For example, in the US alone, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that approximately 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year, resulting in about 20–30 fatalities.

Similarly, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) discovered that between 2006 and 2010, an estimated 557 people died as a result of animal bites and attacks in the United States. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that tens of thousands of people are killed each year as a result of animal bites and attacks.

Conclusion

These statistics indicate that the natural order will always prevail because God does not cause confusion. As a result, no action that causes confusion can be attributed to His design.

Sources

Book of Jasher (Chapter 4:11-12, 7:23-25)

Book of Enoch (Chapter 69:1-12, specifically verse 5)

Ginzberg, L. (1909). The Legends of the Jews. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society.

Talmud Bavli. (circa 500 CE). Sanhedrin 68a. (I. Epstein, Trans.). London: Soncino Press. (Original work published circa 500 CE)

Genesis 6:14-16 (Bible verse)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Dog Bites. Retrieved from [www.cdc.gov]

American Veterinary Medical Association. (n.d.). Dog Bite Prevention. Retrieved from [www.avma.org]

World Health Organization. (n.d.). Animal bites. Retrieved from [www.who.int]