Why have teacup-sized dogs and cafes where you can pet cats and capybaras become so popular in the modern world? What fantastical beasts and dragon lords do city dwellers associate themselves with, and what price do pets pay to become as touching and convenient for people as possible? The author seeks answers to these questions by understanding the roles imposed on animals in modern culture and predicting the consequences of this dynamic between animals and people. Written at the intersection of anthropology, zoology, cultural studies, and ethics, the book draws extensively on the latest data, ranging from academic research to social media statistics. Katya Krylova is a curator, art historian, and contemporary cultural theorist. She holds an MA in Arts (Goldsmiths, University of London) and a PhD fellowship from the University of Canterbury (New Zealand).