[PREHISTORIC PETS]

The first human pets emerged not long after the first pets themselves. Many thousands of years ago, the wolf was domesticated by early humans. These fearsome beasts made excellent guards against wild animals, helped hunters find prey, and became loyal and lovable companions. A minority of women felt particularly drawn to the creatures. They painted themselves with brown soil and gray ash or wore their furs like a second skin instead of as loose loincloths.

These were not the tame petgirls of the modern world, any more than the domesticated wolves were tame. No, they were fierce, almost wild women. They joined the men on hunts, often bringing home more meat than them. They could also hold their own in a fight, as many a male learned the hard way. Yet if a man earned her respect, he would learn that a wolf girl could be as gentle as any woman, and almost puppy-like in her bids for affection.

The shamans and wise ones believed these women had been touched by the spirit of the wolf. They told their tribes this was the nature gods' way of rewarding humanity's kinship with the wolves, and predicted further rewards if other animals were domesticated. They were right. With each new beast -goat, cat, sheep, cow, you name it- came a new type of animal woman. Some even took after animals that had never been domesticated, painting themselves to resemble wild creatures like the jaguar or squirrel, or even insects like the fuzzy bumblebee and delicate moth.

Few were as fierce as the original wolf girls, but even these became tamer as wolves turned into dogs. When hunting became less important due to the rise of agriculture they fell into more approachable, playful roles. And with the rise of civilization the belief in spirits and nature gods waned, turning blessed animal women into beloved pet girls.

Not every culture developed the same way from there, of course. In some pet girls quickly became a normal part of life not worth making a fuss about, while others continued to revere and celebrate them as something special. In almost all cases their presence had a positive effect on society, increasing people's empathy for those they saw as different and lowering tensions in their own unique way. That's not to say there was no injustice or war, but the total amount of suffering is lower than it would be without them.

The evolution of pet/owner relationships.

The first wolf girls were highly independent beings who had no problem fending for themselves. When they craved affection they'd join a man or woman they were interested in at the fire or slink into someone's tent, and when they preferred not to be disturbed they would find a quiet place to be alone or roam the surrounding areas with members of their own kind.

They would pick their partners on a whim, but if one wanted to get closer to a wolf girl it could take a long time to earn her trust. When this happened a special bond would form, and the shewolf would stay by her mate's side through thick or thin from then on.

Over time this relationship was formalized into a bond between pet and owner. The behavior of those involved changed through natural progression as well as social expectations. Owners were expected to provide for and protect their girls, who allowed themselves to became more carefree and submissive. But even though pets placed great trust in their owners, the final say remained theirs. If they weren't treated well they could leave, knowing the community would stand up for them.

In the modern age this community support has developed into a well-regulated system. Adoption centers and pet agencies were established to help pets find suitable owners, police forces are trained to recognize their special needs, and schools teach adolescents about healthy pet/owner dynamics along with the emergency numbers to use if they are being mistreated.