Animals have been a part of mankind for an uncountable amount of time. They are food and a way to help us gain food. A great example is the canine family, although some of them we may despise because they keep stealing chicken eggs (fox), we tamed them many many years ago. They were and still are our companions in this short life. Although life may be tough, animals like dogs help us get through tough times and make life better. That being said, one of the biggest oofs we've made so far is forcefully breeding them. Yeah, pugs are in pain, but what can I do about it? I'm just a human.
CATS
Wha-? How? When did they enter our tamed animal group? Oh wait, we didn't tame them, they tamed us. It all makes sense now. That's why we have to clean up their poop. That's why we have to give them food. That's why they laze around doing nothing. It's because we're their m̶̡̧̡̯̟̝̦͖̦̰̰̭̀̈ͭͦ̆͟͠҉̧̖͕͓̿͌̉a̘̣̗̝̤̰̩͒̂ͧ͂̀̾̄ͮ̂̑s̹̠̬̲̟̩ͫͯ͌͑̏̓ͮ̏͘͝ṱ̴̵̿̀̒̓ͭ̒͑̚e̢̥ͩ͋̂͟r̶̥͉̱̤̣̱̆̓͢͜s-
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It's because we're their slaves.
PANDAS
How did they get through natural selection? The only thing they ever eat are bamboos (They can eat other foods but they prefer bamboos). Pandas usually try to avoid confrontation, but apparently they can fight extremely well, so most animals try to steer clear of pandas. Another factor to consider about the panda is that their meat tastes horrible, probably the main reason why carnivores don't attack them very often.
You know what, I'm kind of jealous of pandas, because they're living a life better than many humans. They eat, drink, sleep, poop, and repeat.
HORSES
They allowed mankind to travel quickly and to hunt other game back in the day. A while later, humans started using them for warfare.
Now we use them to race each other.
CHICKENS
They taste taste like everything and everything tastes like chicken. What more do you want me to say?
Oh yeah they make eggs too, just like almost every other avian or reptile.
COW
Tasty meat + milk.
FISH
Fish were and still are a pretty important food source. They are high in important nutrients, they help lower the risk of heart disease, and they develop the brain (or something).
There are many other animals that have helped us throughout the years that I can't name right off the bat, but these were some of the most important ones in the development of human history (except the pandas).
TL;DR?
Many different kinds of animals have helped us throughout the existence of our species.