She sits proudly on her perch to be admired by all who pass. A little scratch under the chin makes her purr, a quiet soothing sound. She and her owner are content. 

Her Majesty – My Pet

Two granddaughters inspired the picture above. They both have cats (as do I) that are an important part of their lives. My first pet was a Dalmatian puppy given to my brother and me as a Christmas gift. Though we became attached to him, he was not considered an integral a part of the family’s fabric in the way pets are today. He ran around our lawn without a leash, played catch and greeted us with a wagging tail when we came home, but in those days, dogs were considered pets, not companions, not human beings. 

My partner, Ray, grew up in a rural area where animals were part of the work force. Cats kept the rodent population down, barking dogs provided front line security and goats ate blackberry bushes taking over the yard. Animals were loved, petted and fed, but spent most of their time out of doors, acquiring rich thick coats of fur in the winter. Once the United States urbanized, the relationship to animals changed. Today, 90 percent of dog owners say their dog has a positive impact on their mental and physical health. That comment would never have been made forty years ago. 

Instead of buying big bags of standard food, urban owners are fussy, believing their pets have special nutritional needs. They have concerns about food allergies and fears about packaging being contaminated. Owners enjoy pampering their cats (not so rural owners). They spend freely, purchasing toys, fancy collars and expensive pillows and willingly pay high fees for veterinary specialists and daycare services. 

Statistics from Research and Markets:

55% of households have pets (dogs rule) – half live in the 25 largest              Metropolitan areas

Dog ownership is up 29 percent in the past decade

Multiple dog households have increased

Ownership among older, Hispanic and millennial populations is growing

Unmarried and childless people have more pets than before

24 percent of cats are overweight

Urban owners spend much more than rural owners on their animals

Fish are more likely found in affluent and larger households

Hispanics form the largest segment of bird owners

47 percent of reptiles are owned by millennials.

Roland Sonnenburg, a professional animal trainer who supplies animals for film and television reminds people that dogs are not humans. They shouldn’t be dressed in cute outfits, given ice cream for dessert or entertained by a television left on when alone.  He says that well-meaning owners make the mistake of assuming animals enjoy the same things people do. And even worse, they expect them to behave like people. Healthy dogs act like dogs and cats behave like cats. Human beings need to act human and not try to mimic their pets in order to improve their relationship with them. For instance, don’t growl in your dog’s face when he snarls or you very well might end up in the hospital. Your dog acted appropriatly for he considered you to be threat.

It’s unfair to get angry when your pet reacts to a rambunctious toddler who pulls his tail. It’s dog-like to nip back and cat-like to spit and hiss. Owners are responsible to keep their pets safe and leashed so they don’t get in fights with other animals or destroy property. They have to be watched so they don’t chew on power cords or dash across the street after a bird or squirrel when the front door is opened. My dog, Ashanti, was poisoned when off-leash while playing on a beach where dead birds had washed to shore. He would not respond to my call when I tried to put him back on the leash but ran instead to lick his find.  I’ll always feel guilty for his death as I continue to mourn his passing. Pets rely on their owners to make good decisions for them. They don’t understand the concept of long term consequeces. 

A cousin who bred blue ribbon shelties warned me about overfeeding my dog and giving him food that appeals to my taste buds. She said that processed well balanced meals were healthier and designed to keep weight at an appropriate level. Since so many owners don’t follow this advice and think their animal needs to eat as often as they do, a tremendous amount of overweight animals have to be put on diets by vets. 

Exercise is another factor to keeping animals healthy. In urban areas, pets are not allowed to roam freely. Many owners are too lazy to exercise them outside in inclement weather. Most dogs enjoy romping outside in the cold. They have energy and want to run. They like being challenged to fetch a stick that is thrown further each time. 

Many behaviors pet owners exhibit have more to do with their own psychology than that of their pets. For example, people hang stockings for their animals and fill them with special treats and toys to be given on Christmas morning. They subject them to photo sessions wearing reindeer antlers or furry red coats. The number of people buying canine costumes has increased by 24 percent since 2010 according to PetSmart. Why do this?

Psychologist, Kit Yarrow in Psychology Today says that pets are “stress-busters.” Pet ownership has increased as have the number of people reporting anxiety. Cuddling and playing with an animal boosts oxytocin, a stress-relieving hormone that makes people happier and more deeply bonded. 

A second factor in the way owners behave has to do with status.  In contemporary society, 91 percent of owners consider their pets to be members of the family with 81 percent saying that they are equal members. This was never the case forty years ago.  Advancements in veterinary care kept pace with the elevated position pets occupy in the household. There are internists, ophthalmologists, dermatologists, and many more specialists for animals. There are even pet insurance companies to help pay for unexpected medical emergencies.  Advanced medical care is not inexpensive but since pets are increasingly as important as other members of the family more people are willing to pay what they can. 

Lastly, humans have a need to be nurtured, and pets fulfill that need. An unprecedented number of people live alone. Large numbers of couples choose not to have children and due to increased longevity, those who do live in empty nests for years. These changes contributed to owners thinking of their pets as children. They commonly use baby-talk when addressing them. Over 58 percent refer to themselves as “mom” or “dad.”  Pet-parents who want to provide their animals with human experiences have caused the pet industry to blossom.  Gourmet meals, pet hotels rather than kennels, toys and stellar healthcare provide emotional support, connection and happiness to owners.  I should know. I’m one of them.

References:

Research and Markets (2017) United States Pet Population and Ownership Trends Report 2017 – Focus on Dogs, Cats, and Other Pets. Globe Newswire. retrieved fromhttps://globenewswire.com/news-release/2017/07/17/1047437/0/en/United-States-Pet-Population-and-Ownership-Trends-Report-2017-Focus-on-Dogs-Cats-and-Other-Pets.html

Turnbull, L. (2015)Your dog is not a human being. Stop treating her like one. The Week . retrieved from https://theweek.com/articles/536712/dog-not-human-being-stop-treating-like

Yarrow,K. (2016) three Reasons Why Pets are More Pampered Today. Psychology today  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-why-behind-the-buy/201612/three-reasons-why-pets-are-more-pampered-today