I think it's hard for me to keep pets because I hate to see them chained down or contained. Right now Kermit, one of my two frogs, is swimming around maniacally, terrified of the light I just turned on. Miss Piggy is probably hungry because her fatass is too stupid to eat the food I place in front of her. This wouldn't be a problem in Africa, where they're apparently from.
But they are adorable. Maybe that's why we love pets. It's an evolutionary contrivance that leads us to relate to them, to empathize for them and their emotions. Somehow, helping them helps us. I think we domesticated animals to use them, and as an evolutionary side-effect, we've developed the ability to empathize in them. Thus, we ensure our own protection or ensure that we maximize on their qualities that we need to survive.
In addition, I think animals don't have feelings and any display of "emotion" we see is only a result of our inherent tendency to connect to them. They also have evolved to display these "emotions" to get what they want.
But in a way, haven't we all?
Regardless, I could never chain down a dog or cat. It just wouldn't feel right to restrict them. I don't think I enjoy the idea of taking that much command over a life, regardless of the Great Chain of Being...
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