When did dogs become our best friends?

Dog DNA Databases, Enforcement, and Trust

• Some support mandatory dog DNA registration (e.g., an Italian province plan) to fine owners who leave poop, especially in perceived “low‑trust” societies where voluntary compliance is weak.
• Others doubt feasibility in places like NYC, citing likely noncompliance and practical enforcement limits.
• Debate over what “high‑trust” means: fare enforcement by spot checks, need for grocery cart deposits, bike theft rates, and corruption/bribery are all proposed metrics.
• Civil‑liberties and equity concerns arise: street checks of tags/DNA seen by some as overreach, and others argue such laws would be criticized for disparate impact on poorer or undocumented owners.

Dog Poop: Environment and Health

• One side claims dog feces are natural fertilizer; others counter it harms lawns, carries parasites, and contributes to pollution, with links to public‑health sources.
• Disagreement over whether diet (meat vs plant‑heavy kibble) changes effects on grass; some dismiss online lawn‑care sources as low‑quality.

Ethics of Dog Ownership, Especially in Cities

• Several commenters argue many city dogs are effectively prisoners: confined in small apartments, understimulated, and used mainly for human emotional needs or social media.
• Others reply most dogs sleep much of the day, many breeds are well‑suited to apartments, and responsible owners mitigate with walks, toys, walkers, and multiple dogs.
• Strong emphasis on matching breed/drive to lifestyle; high‑energy working breeds in small apartments are singled out as especially problematic.
• Some would forgo dogs until they can offer rural space; others highlight successful, well‑loved city dogs and rescue adoptions.

Domestication, Co‑evolution, and Breeding Ethics

• Several comments frame humans and dogs as a deep, possibly pre‑agricultural alliance that gave humans major advantages (hunting, guarding, “babysitting”).
• Others push back, characterizing modern dogs as “genetically modified” wolves bred into dependency, akin to livestock or “slaves.”
• Concerns about “torture breeding” of certain purebreds and aesthetic traits that cause suffering. Some advocate sharply curtailing breeding until shelter overpopulation is solved.

Comparisons to Other Animals and Food Taboos

• Some see abusing or eating dogs as uniquely abhorrent; others note many cultures eat canids, felids, horses, or primates, and argue our taboos are culturally contingent.
• A few suggest that if we grant strong moral status to dogs, consistency would require rethinking our treatment of all farm animals.

Dogs, Cats, and Context

• Multiple commenters argue dogs thrive best in rural/working contexts; cats are portrayed as better suited to urban, indoor life and more lightly domesticated.
• Historical notes (e.g., ancient dog gravestones) are cited as evidence of longstanding deep emotional bonds.