compare/contrast essay

Without you, where would we be

Angelica N. Marcus
Community College of Denver
English Composition

Angelica Marcus
English 121
Essay 2- Compare/Contrast
June 26, 2010

Without you, where would I be?

Since the days before history was first recorded, there have been examples of people applying the benefit of their relationship with animals; the dove that brought back the olive branch to inform Noah and his family of dry land, the caveman using the mammoth’s fur to keep warm and tusk to hunt other animals, the dolphins that have been trained to help protect our national security even pigs are used to test products before their release to the public and snakes assist us naturally by keeping the disease ridden rodent level at a tolerable level. Animals have always been a vital part of our existence and way of life, almost since the beginning of time. With this information one could assume that every animal and their relationship with human kind is extremely important. I find two of these relationships to be most intriguing; that of the Homo sapiens and primate, and that of the man and his dog. Our lives would be completely different, if not non-existent, without our relationship with them both and each alliance is different and vital to our lively hood.. Canines, of all variations, have been apart of our day to day since approximately 10,000 to 15,000 years ago. It is thought that the current domesticated dog is a descendent of the grey wolf. Humans have been recorded using wolves for transportation, early alarm systems to warn of oncoming danger to themselves and their cattle, as well as herding flock animals. The relationship is thought to have begun with the wild animal sniffing around human settlements (in these days there were no cities or towns, settlements were more like camp sites) and eating the garbage that humans would leave behind, which provided a cleaner area for the people. They early dogs would even eat the disease carrying rats that would be attracted to the trash, this in turn allowed people, wherever the dogs were, to grow bigger and stronger. During the Middle Ages people began to see owning dogs as a symbol of stature, since during those days hardly anyone was able to feed a dog on purpose. In spite of this, the number of dog breeds began to increase tremendously. People were breeding them to create a certain size, length, color, face and behavior. In China their history books state that the small Shih Tzu’s were gifts to the Emperor as far back as 624 A.D. The small lion-like dogs were used as faithful companions, bed warmers and would also lie across the emperor’s feet as he handled court business to keep his feet warm. Dogs were of such a high commodity, anyone found in possession of one outside of the palace was put to death! People have also bred dogs to perform specific services. They, unlike dogs bred specifically for companionship, are bred for their ability to perform a specific task repetitively. The Portuguese water dog was breed to accompany fishermen on their boats. The dogs are excellent swimmers and divers, so they were used to retrieve broken nets and dive for fish. The Water dog could even be trusted to protect the ship at a foreign dock. The Bloodhound has been apart of the Americas for over a century and have been the tireless worker for law enforcement. Their keen noses are so accurate that evidence found by them has been accepted in the court of law. The liaison between us and primates has a disputable beginning. Without mentioning the questions of our close ancestry, accounts of our interactions are far dating as well. Throughout history monkeys and their bones/body parts have been used for religious and magical purposes. In Bolivia, spider monkey parts are used to “cure” snake bites, spider bites, fever, coughs, colds, shoulder pains and even sleep disorders. In Sierra Leone, the natives believe if you tie a small piece of Chimpanzee bone to the waist or wrist of a child, the child will grow up healthy and strong. Recently in Boston, scientist, using monkeys as their case study, discovered what they believe is a cure for the Ebola virus. The Ebola virus has plagued mankind since 1976. At the height of the outbreak, the virus reached a mortality rate of 88%. The monkeys used in the case study were intentionally infected and later given the new vaccine. Due to their many genetic similarities to humans, and the affect of the disease in primates, scientist believe that a drug would be compatible to us both. They were tested and cured with the vaccine with minimal side effects. Primates have also began to be utilized for their ability to perform specific tasks that only having opposable thumb would allow them to be able to complete. One organization, Helping Hands, has been training Capuchin monkeys to perform everyday human task such as turning on light switches, placing disk in CD or DVD players and even some of the simplest task like scratching an itch on a persons face. They then place the small human-like animal in the home with a disabled person to assist them with their everyday requirements and allow them to not feel dependant. Because of our close interactions with both species, our own histories have been changed for forever. Both the canine and the primate have been utilized in the human exploration of space and the unknown. Inconsistent to what most believe, the dog was actually the first animal to enter into outer space aboard a Russian spaceship, accompanied by a few fruit flies, and the ape would be soon to follow. Possessing the capacity to receive and express signs of affection make both the dog and monkey excellent companions to people, and keeps our relationships in a constant developmental stage. Millions of people find personal comfort in a pet, and keep them in their homes as part of the family.They have been a useful part of our evolving into the beings with lavish lifestyles and long lives. For the ones of us that are unfortunate and are debilitated for one reason or another, they have proven themselves willing and able to abet us with whatever task set before them. Most humans recognize that we are all connected, and have been able to find benefit in our co-existing with other animals. Without the help of our distant relative the primate, or our “b.f.f” the canine, where would we be?

Refernce1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog
Refernce2: http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/economy/dogs.htm
Refernce3: http://www.imperialshihtzu.com/history_shihtzu.html
Reference4: http://www.animalfreedom.org/english/
Reference5: http://www.akc.org/breeds/bloodhound/index.cfm
Reference6: http://www.akc.org/breeds/portuguese_water_dog/index.cfm
Reference7: http://www.monkeyhelpers.org/
Reference8: http://news.slashdot.org/