I think we just disagree here, and that's okay. I see my children and friends as completely different than pets. You're right - children and friends don't require some kind of function to fit into my life - but to equate them to pets doesn't make sense to me. I can understand that some one might want to have a pet for companionship/friendship (read: function) - but I think it's different than human companionship and friendship. And for some it may be BETTER than human companionship (I have several friends who feel this way). I was merely sharing that it's something that doesn't fit into my brain. I probably sound like some kind of wacked out pet hater... I assure you I'm not.Asking what the function of a pet is, is like asking what the function of a friend is.
No, it's cool. I get it. I wasn't trying to equate the two, merely asserting that the reasons for having either are similar. It is certainly a different sort of companionship than what humans provide, but it is a form of companionship -- in my opinion, a simpler and usually far more honest one -- and those differences are, for pet people, part of the appeal.