I just read a post at greater good discussing recent research reported in the New York Times that identifies pet-owners willingness to give affection and love to their pets as evidence of "pure altruism". We give our pets love and affection with no expectation that the pet will give anything in return. Therefore generosity must carry its own rewards i.e. positive emotions, rather than being a means to some favorable end.
On the other hand, perhaps what the pet "gives" is similar to what humans "give" when they practice empathy. Although it appears that the pet gives nothing back, perhaps the mere reception of their love is a gift to us?
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