Pets become a ‘substitute child’?
Detail:
A few days ago I wrote about my reservations over the term “Pet Parents”, as coined by Euromonitor. Well, pet insurance company Petplan has said that more than three-quarters of pet-owning Scots women admitted getting a pet for companionship, and will buy their pets birthday and Christmas presents.
Interestingly enough – and with obvious implications for the pet obesity epidemic – 82 per cent of those surveyed admitted feeding their pets human food such as cheese, crisps and cake.
And three out of four worried or felt guilty at leaving their pets either alone or with pet care providers when they were at work.
The findings were revealed as part of the Petplan Census, in which 10,000 UK pet owners were asked about their attitudes and actions towards their pets.
One psychologist, Dr Deborah Wells at Queens University, Belfast, even said that pets could serve as a ‘child substitute’, “offering an outlet for emotional attachment and nurturing behaviour”.
If the results of this census are to be believed, and Dr Wells’s perception is relevant, the humanisation of pets has reached new levels. It will mean, therefore, that pets are now an integral part of the family unit, and obviously for many, a substitute family member.
But as is always the case, another professional was almost immediately quoted, commenting on the negative aspects of this kind of reliance.
Behavioral psychologist Jo Hemmings warned: “There’s a fine line between welcoming an animal’s unconditional love and companionship and turning it into a freak show because you don’t recognize where to draw the line.”
I’m not going to join the academic repartee. Besides, I know you will all have your own staunch opinion on the matter.
What I will say is that the good thing that could come out of all this is that if owners are buying their pets birthday and Christmas presents, and if they view their pets as substitute children, then chances are they will be buying more toys, treats and other accessories, and possibly upgrading their food purchases to premium and super premium products.
It will be interesting to see what trends develop as a result of this over the next couple of years.
Interestingly enough – and with obvious implications for the pet obesity epidemic – 82 per cent of those surveyed admitted feeding their pets human food such as cheese, crisps and cake.
And three out of four worried or felt guilty at leaving their pets either alone or with pet care providers when they were at work.
The findings were revealed as part of the Petplan Census, in which 10,000 UK pet owners were asked about their attitudes and actions towards their pets.
One psychologist, Dr Deborah Wells at Queens University, Belfast, even said that pets could serve as a ‘child substitute’, “offering an outlet for emotional attachment and nurturing behaviour”.
If the results of this census are to be believed, and Dr Wells’s perception is relevant, the humanisation of pets has reached new levels. It will mean, therefore, that pets are now an integral part of the family unit, and obviously for many, a substitute family member.
But as is always the case, another professional was almost immediately quoted, commenting on the negative aspects of this kind of reliance.
Behavioral psychologist Jo Hemmings warned: “There’s a fine line between welcoming an animal’s unconditional love and companionship and turning it into a freak show because you don’t recognize where to draw the line.”
I’m not going to join the academic repartee. Besides, I know you will all have your own staunch opinion on the matter.
What I will say is that the good thing that could come out of all this is that if owners are buying their pets birthday and Christmas presents, and if they view their pets as substitute children, then chances are they will be buying more toys, treats and other accessories, and possibly upgrading their food purchases to premium and super premium products.
It will be interesting to see what trends develop as a result of this over the next couple of years.
By:
Sandra
Date/time :
02/08/2010
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