I, and 'we', mentioned something similar with the trio's response leaning to a negative. If there are going to be pets then it was implied that we'll be getting such features fairly late when the game is considered complete. Nice idea though, and it works off what I wanted in the game also of having to gift 'tributes' to prankful hungry birds that attacks you. I really do want us to tame them the way you mentioned by working for it over time....It's similar to how you tame horses in Minecraft, just more 'realistic'.
I was hoping Red could add followers you could customize on the same level as yourself, even using the hunger & food system also. Even tending to their food & third levels also....This could carry over to the pet side also while being allowed to raid chests when 'under your command'; your ownership. I really do want to see both, or either of these in because Rising World would be boring otherwise, or at the least have missed an opportunity to further be unique from others by also adding features hitting sweet-spots. At the very least, we'll end up looking forward to a 'possible' NPC village system added later down the line.
Without followers or pet of some kind for singleplayer folks, or those on MP on quiet ones, would have less fun with both/either pets & comrades not added. Be a wasted chance otherwise. I don't want to force Red, but I also do because of how much it adds as a whole in entertainment value.