During the Middle Ages, domestic animals most often served agricultural functions. Nevertheless, some members of society had the means to keep pets that required only companionship, not practical utility. Having such an animal indicated the owner's wealth and allowed them to live in conditions inaccessible to most of the population.
Historian Caitlin Walker-Michael, in her book 'Pets in the Middle Ages' (Alpine Non-Fiction edition), which was translated into Russian by Ekaterina Rakitina, details who kept these animals and what their living conditions were in the Middle Ages. This material presents an excerpt that addresses criticism directed at those owners who showed excessive care for their pets.