Pets play a vital role in our lives. They not only provide a devoted source of companionship, but the more we learn about the human-animal bond, the more sophisticated their interaction with man is becoming. From service animals guiding the blind, to pets as therapy in hospitals and nursing homes, animals are a growing component of everyday life. Some workplaces are even becoming pet-friendly as studies are beginning to find that pets in the workplace reduce employee stress, and in some cases increase productivity.

Not too long ago, companion animals were primarily limited to dogs, cats, birds, hamsters, rabbits and fish. Today, with our growing ability to domesticate animals, we are seeing more and more exotic species living alongside our families. The role of the animal health industry continues to evolve as we are now not only treating the pet, but a member of the family.