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Scientists Working To Extend Lifespan of Pets (sciencemag.org)
sciencehabit writes: Scientists have explored the mysteries of aging in humans for hundreds of years, but now they're beginning to turn their attention to our pets. Why do cats live longer than dogs? Why do small dogs live longer than big ones? The answers could help us prolong the lifespans of our favorite companion animals, as well as shed light on the mysteries of aging in humans.
"The same things that allow us to live longer also apply to our pets," says João Pedro de Magalhães, a biogerontologist at the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom who maintains AnAge, the world's largest database of animal life spans. "I don't think there's a set max. longevity for any species," he says. "The real question is, 'How far can we go?' Maybe a thousand years from now you could have a dog that lives 300 years."
"The same things that allow us to live longer also apply to our pets," says João Pedro de Magalhães, a biogerontologist at the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom who maintains AnAge, the world's largest database of animal life spans. "I don't think there's a set max. longevity for any species," he says. "The real question is, 'How far can we go?' Maybe a thousand years from now you could have a dog that lives 300 years."
I had to rub my eyes and read again to be sure I didn't read that wrong.
So your point is that pet should die so it can be a good "life lesson" for our kid. Really?
That's not why you buy a pet. But it is part of owning a pet, just as death is a natural part of life. Owning a pet teaches a child about compassion, responsibility, and the cycle of life, including death and grieving. All of these things are valuable lessons for a kid, including the last part. What's a terrible lesson for a kid is to teach them that they can buy their way out of anything unpleasant that might ever happen to them.
the natural order
Ah. You're a religious nutjob.
There is no "natural order". Animals are our distant cousins, evolved to fit other niches than us, not some creation we have been designated to "rule over".
We have a symbiotic relationship with some of our distant cousins. They provide safety and comfort for us, and we provide safety, comfort and food for them.
People with companion animals on average live longer and have fewer mental health issues (except the crazy cat lady, of course), so it's a win for all species.