Isn't the human-pet relationship a perplexing one? For a multitude of reasons, be it attachment, loyalty, passivity or care, a large number of people appear more concerned with the wellbeing of their animals than they do other people. For an author that used to dislike dogs, the saying "man's best friend" always sounded odd. The relationships in question have surfaced again recently, with many widely condemning Premier League footballer Kurt Zouma after a video of him drop-kicking and slapping his cat emerged online . The thought-process of celebrities with a public following never ceases to amaze, because anyone with a functioning brain would think to refrain from anything controversial. More than controversial though, this is an example of animal abuse that rightly brings attention to pet wellbeing and a debate about the importance of protecting them. There has been further contest over the severity of Zouma's punishment. The RSPCA have taken the cats to a safe ...