Dogs: Living tools that helped shape civilization

October 2, 2011

Mankind has long had a soft spot in his heart for furry, fuzzy things. Have you ever noticed how many people have a dog at their side while walking down a street? And how many ‘street people’ have their arms around a dog while asking for help? There may be a good reason for that. It’s called the ‘Animal Connection.”

The ‘Animal Connection” term, coined by paleoanthropologist Pat Shipman at Penn State University, shows mankind’s love for all things furry has deep roots in human evolution. Our close and affectionate relationships with animals may even have contributed to how we developed tools, our social structures and even the way we speak.

"The animal connection runs through the whole [human history] and connects the other big evolutionary leaps, including stone tools, language and domestication," Shipman explained. "Instead of being isolated discoveries, there's a theme here. It's very deep and very old.

"You see homeless people on the streets with pets, and people in dire circumstances keeping pets," Shipman continued in an interview with LiveScience.com. "That suggests there's something humans get out of it, which is pretty old."

This "animal connection" may have even shaped how our ancestors developed language and other tools of civilization. The need to survive may have compelled humans to learn about sustaining animal health and welbeing, as well of for each other as people began to discover uses of animals for other than food. We, through this necessity developed a unique sense of caring for our fellow creatures. As mankind learned to harness animals as ‘living tools;’ ox and horses for hauling, sheep for clothing and, of course dogs for protection and hunting companions - and eventually even personal companionship, a deep affection developed.

The seemingly unique human tendency still persists in modern societies – for instance, were you aware that there are more U.S. households that have pets than children? And those who do have children often have more pets than children?

Dogs, in particular hold a special affection to many people. Our relationship with them in modern times still utilizes the unique abilities of dogs to aid us in our own needs. Dogs are used as Therapy Aids, Search and Rescue Operations, Guide Dogs, Military Dogs and Guide Dogs, to mention only a few,

Dogs are still our ‘living tools.’ Ones we have come to depend on, cherish and love with all our hearts. And our very civilization may very well have evolved because of their bonding nature with mankind.