Americans love pets. And it's not just puppy love1, either. Many pet owners treat their furry2 friends as part of the family. Sometimes they spice up3 their pets' lives with entertaining videos and amusing toys. If they have an eye for fashion, pet owners can dress their pets in stylish clothes. For special occasions, they can use canine4 perfume5 to make their dogs smell well. You might say Americans treat their pets like they treat their children—sometimes even better.
In America, there are more households with pets than those with children. At least 43 percent of U.S. homes have pets of some sort. Exotic6 creatures, such as monkeys, snakes and even wolves, find a home with some Americans. More common pets include tropical7 fish, mice and birds. But the all-time favorites are cats and dogs, even at the White House. The Bushes' dog, Spot, has replaced the Clintons' cat, Socks, as reigning First Pet. Americans sometimes have strong feelings about whether dogs or cats make better pets. “Dog people” and “cat people” often enjoy friendly rivalries8.
Leading a dog's life in America isn't such a bad thing. Many grocery stores sell gourmet9 pet foods to owners eager to please their pets. In Houston, Texas, dogs can have their dinner delivered to their homes, just like pizza. Well-to-do canines10 can attend doggy daycare centers while their owners work. Pets can even accompany11 their owners on vacation. Fancy hotels are beginning to accommodate12 both man and pets. Furry guests in hotels can enjoy gourmet meals served on fine china13 and sleep in soft beds.
Beneath the furry luxuries, there lies a basic American belief: Pets have a right to be treated well. At least 75 animal welfare organizations exist in America.
These provide care and adoption14 services for homeless and abused15 animals. Veterinarians16 can give animals an incredible level of medical care for an incredible price. To pay for the high-tech health care, people can buy health insurance for their pets. And when it's time to say good-bye, owners can bury their pets in a respectable pet cemetery.
The average American enjoys having pets around, and for good reason. Researchers have discovered that interacting17 with animals lowers a person's blood pressure. Dogs can offer protection from burglars18 and unwelcome visitors. Cats can help rid the home of pests19. Little creatures of all shapes and sizes can provide companionship and love. In many cases, having a pet prepares a young couple for the responsibilities of parenthood. Pets even encourage social relationships: They give their owners an appearance of friendliness, and they provide a good topic of conversation.
Pets are as basic to American culture as hot dogs or apple pie. To Americans, pets are not just property, but a part of the family. After all, pets are people, too.
美国人很爱宠物，而且还不是一时的激情。很多宠物主把这些毛绒绒的朋友当作家庭的一员，有时候还为它们准备有趣的录像带和玩具，让它们过得有滋有味。如果主人时髦的话，他们还会给自己的宠物穿上时髦的衣服。在一些特殊场合，他们甚至为狗喷上专用香水，这样它们闻起来就香喷喷的啦。可以这样说，美国人待他们的宠物就像待自己的孩子——有时有过之而无不及。
在美国，有宠物的家庭比有孩子的家庭还多。至少43%的美国家庭养有不同种类的宠物，有些还饲养外来品种，例如猴子、蛇甚至狼；更常见的宠物有热带鱼、老鼠和鸟。不过，猫和狗一直是最有人气的，即使在白宫也不例外。布什的狗——斯波特已经取代了克林顿的猫——袜子，成为高高在上的“第一宠物”。最好的的宠物到底是猫还是狗？美国人有时候被这个问题弄得牵肠挂肚的。 “爱狗的人”和“爱猫的人”呢，也经常喜欢彼此调侃一番。
在美国，狗过的日子还是蛮不赖的。宠物美食在很多杂货店都有售，心情迫切的主人可以借此讨好他们的宠物。在德克萨斯的休斯顿，狗狗还能享受送上门的晚餐，就跟比萨饼一样。富人家的狗在主人上班的时候可以去狗狗托管中心。宠物甚至可以和主人一同度假。一些别出心裁的饭店已经开始同时留宿人和宠物。这些毛绒绒的客人们在饭店还可以大饱口福，尽情享受盛在精致瓷器里的美食，并在柔软的床上睡觉。
在宠物奢华享受的背后，其实存在着美国人的一种基本信念：宠物有权受到善待。美国至少有75个动物福利组织，他们为流离失所以及受到虐待的动物提供照顾与领养服务。兽医给动物提供的医疗护理好得令人难以置信——价格自然极其昂贵。 若是为了负担高科技的卫生保健，主人可买到宠物健康保险。宠物死时，主人还可以买到一块体面的墓地安葬它们。
普通美国人喜欢养宠物，且有充分的理由。研究人员发现，与动物为伴能够降低人的血压。狗能保护主人免受窃贼的侵犯，并能将不受欢迎的访客拒之门外。猫则能帮忙清除屋里的害虫。任何形状及大小的宠物都能给人们带来友情与爱。很多时候，拥有一只宠物能帮助年轻夫妻培养为人父母的责任。宠物甚至有助于改善人际关系：它们使主人看起来更友善，并且也带给人们一个交谈的好话题。
宠物是美国文化中很基本的一部分，就如热狗和苹果派一样。对美国人而言，宠物不仅仅是私人财产，而且还是家庭的一部分。毕竟，宠物也是“人”啊！
1. puppy love （未成年男女）不成熟、短暂的爱
2． furry adj． 有毛皮的
3． spice up 增添趣味
4． canine adj． 犬的
5． perfume n． 香水
6． exotic adj． 外来的
7． tropical adj． 热带的
8． rivalry n． 竞争，对抗
9． gourmet adj． 讲究的，美味的
10． well－to－do adj． 富裕的，有钱的 canine n． 犬科动物，犬
11． accompany v． 陪伴
12． accommodate v． 供给…住宿，招待
13． china n． 瓷器
14． adoption n． 收养
15． abuse v． 虐待
16． veterinarian n． 兽医
17． interact] with 相互作用，相互影响
18． burglar n． 夜盗，窃贼
19． pest [pest] n． 有害物， 毒虫