It is reported that the following edition of the Book of

Genesis was discovered in the Dead Sea Scrolls. If authentic,

it would shed light on the question, “Where do pets come from?”

‘And Adam said, “Lord, when I was in the garden, you walked

with me everyday. Now I do not see you anymore. I am lonely

here and it is difficult for me to remember how much you love

me.”

‘And God said, “No problem! I will create a companion for you

that will be with you forever and who will be a reflection of

my love for you, so that you will know I love you, even when you

cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish and childish and

unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you

are and will love you as I do, in spite of yourself.”

‘And God created a new animal to be a companion for Adam. And it

was a good animal. And God was pleased.

‘And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and he wagged

his tail. And Adam said, “But Lord, I have already named all the

animals in the Kingdom and all the good names are taken and I

cannot think of a name for this new animal.”

‘And God said, “No problem! Because I have created this new

animal to be a reflection of my love for you, his name will be

a reflection of my own name, and you will call him DOG.”

‘And Dog lived with Adam and was a companion to him and loved

him. And Adam was comforted. And God was pleased. And Dog was

content and wagged his tail.

‘After a while, it came to pass that Adam’s guardian angel came

to the Lord and said, “Lord, Adam has become filled with pride.

He struts and preens like a peacock and he believes he is worthy

of adoration. Dog has indeed taught him that he is loved, but no

one has taught him humility.”

‘And the Lord said, “No problem! I will create for him a

companion who will be with him forever and who will see him as

he is. The companion will remind him of his limitations, so he

will know that he is not always worthy of adoration.”

‘And God created CAT to be a companion to Adam. And Cat would

not obey Adam.

‘And when Adam gazed into Cat’s eyes, he was reminded that he

was not the supreme being. And Adam learned humility.

‘And God was pleased. And Adam was greatly improved.

‘And Cat did not care one way or the other.’