Pet owners commonly speak of their pets as friends or family members, and pets of middle-class and upper-class owners often enjoy greater privileges than many humans, at least with respect to the amount of money spent on veterinary bills, insurances, grooming, and accessories. But pets are also members of the wide category of “animals,” and as such they are bred, bought, and sold as commodities and lack individual rights. This essay explores the ambiguity surrounding pets—these liminal creatures who lead a life on the threshold between nature and culture.