Surrogate children

It is interesting how a substantial industry has sprung up to provide mainly older adults with indoor pets who serve the role of "companions," and frequently are even surrogates for children. Loneliness is a powerful motivating factor in most people, and when those are gone who for years provided the primary social stimulation, many people turn to (usually) dogs or cats for companionship. Thus, breeders have developed breeds that fit the characteristics needed. And this is nothing new, for we see references to the nobility having such pets many years ago.