THE ORIGIN OF PETS
It is reported that the following edition of the Book of Genesis was discovered
in the Dead Sea Scrolls. If authentic, it would shed light on the question "where
did pets come from?"
And Adam said, "Lord, when I was in the garden, you walked with me every
day. Now I do not see you anymore. I am lonesome here and it is difficult to
remember how much you love me."
And God said, "No problem! I will create a companion for you that will
be with you forever and who will be a reflection of my love for you, so that
you will know I love you, even when you cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish
and childish and unloveable you may be, this new companion will accept you as
you are, and will love you as I do, in spite of yourself."
And God created a new animal to be a companion for Adam. And it was a good animal.
And God was pleased. And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and he wagged his tail.
And Adam said, "But Lord, I have already named all the animals in the Kingdom
and all the good names are taken and I cannot think of a name for this new animal."
And God said, "No problem! Because I have created this new animal to be
a reflection of my love for you, his name will be a reflection of my own name,
and you will call him DOG."
And Dog lived with Adam and was a companion to him and Eve and loved them. And
Adam was comforted. And God was pleased. And Dog was content and wagged his tail.
After a while it came to pass that Adam's guardian angel came to the Lord and
said, "Lord, Adam has become filled with pride. He struts and preens like
a peacock and believes he is worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught him
that he is loved, but no-one has taught him humility."
And the Lord said, "No problem! I will create for him a companion who will
be with him forever and who will see him as he is. The companion will remind
him of his limitations, so he will know he is not worthy of adoration."
And God created Cat to be a companion for Adam. And Cat would not obey Adam.
And when Adam gazed into Cat's eyes, he was reminded that he was not the Supreme
Being. And Adam learned humility. And God was pleased. And Adam was greatly improved.
And Cat did not care one way or the other.