Dogs were the first animals domesticated, having been domesticated from gray wolves approximately 15,000 years ago in the Middle East. Wolves began scavenging near human settlements and humans adopted wolf pups to serve as guards and hunting companions. The wolves adapted well to human society and were bred and controlled by humans. Livestock such as sheep, goats, cattle, and pigs were also domesticated for their uses including labor, meat, milk and leather. Cats were domesticated later to control rodents near stored grains and were kept as pets by ancient Egyptians by 1000 BCE. Domestic animals serve many purposes today including work, transportation, food production, companionship, and conservation education.