Companion animals had a rocky start. They were treated as tests and many people preferred to abuse them rather than care for them. However, around the late 1960's, laws were being put into action that protected animals. It began with the Laboratory Animal Welfare Act in 1966, which required inside-pet owners to give at least minimal care to animals they owned. These laws eventually allowed animals to be treated like the treasures they are now.

  The companion animal industry is thriving in the modern era. Dogs get sweaters to bathing suits and hamsters get large tunnels that lead them to their own personal kitchen. The industry almost has it all, and people like that. Companion animals are at their popularity peaks at the moment, and items that suffice the pet's needs are sold at the snap of a finger. Companion animals are not just fun to own, but they also offer emotional bonds, which some people can not get from others. Animals are there for people when they need them, and they will show love to people that need it. This is why some people bawl when they see those animal commercials that show dogs and cats in cages, and in need of homes.