Do We Treat Our Pets Like Our Children?

By Lisa Spector, Juilliard Graduate, Canine Music Expert and co-founder of Through a Dog’s Ear.

A recent article in Pshychology Today by Stanley Coren, PhD referred to a recent online survey by Kelton Research. Of 1,000 people tested, more people are considering their dogs as part of their family and are also referring to them as children. Here are some of the results:

Nearly 60 percent say that their dogs play a different role than the dogs of their childhood
54 percent call themselves “pet parents” instead of “pet owners”
58 percent have nicknames for themselves, such as “mommy” and “daddy”
35 percent call their dog their “son” or “daughter”
62 percent of the dogs have their own chair, sofa, or bed
81 percent of dog parents know their pets’ birthdays
77 percent have celebrated their pets’ birthday by buying him or her a birthday present
23 percent of pet parents have a photo album dedicated to only pictures of their dogs
16 percent have started scrapbooks for their pets
71 percent of pet owners admit that they have at least one picture of their dog that they carry with them (although the convenience of storing photos on mobile devices may have added to this percentage)

Personally, even though I do consider my dogs as part of my family, I’ve never called myself a pet parent or referred to myself as mommy. However, Sanchez and Gina do have their own dog beds, I celebrate their birthdays (you are invited to a virtual party for Sanchez’s 8th birthday), have scrapbooks dedicated to them, and a picture of my dogs is both my screen saver on my laptop and on my iPhone.

Next: Are you a pet parent?

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Debbi R.

11:52AM PST on Mar 6, 2013

Meant to say, OF COURSE!

March 6
send a green star

11:51AM PST on Mar 6, 2013

thanks

katarzyna p.

7:28AM PST on Nov 12, 2012

if you treat them with the same dignity, decency and respect as someone else in your household, then they are part of your family. you decide what type of family member they are to you, but they will see you as the care giver and be loyal to you as a result

November 12
send a green star

Dale O.

8:22AM PDT on Jul 31, 2012

It does not really matter if one considers oneself a pet parent or a companion or whatever as long as you love the pet giving the pet a quality and loving existence, care and everything necessary for comfort and survival.

Sometimes I call myself mom to my sixteen year old blind cat, sometimes friends call me auntie to their lovely cats. Am now allergic to her, but she stays!

One can get caught up in labelling and whatever fits your own situation is fine.

Have no children of my own and will always have a pet companion in my life and enjoy the company as does the cat enjoy my company while she rules the roost. She has several of her own beds around the house as she is arthritic and no longer jumps up on my bed to snuggle up.

After becoming blind she does prefer all paws on terra firma and does not like being up on a bed, chair or anything else - she gets her comfort on plush beds on the floor/rug. She navigates well being blind using her whiskers to map out her journey and certainly increases speed on the way to the food bowl.

July 31
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Darla G.

6:22PM PDT on May 25, 2012

I don't have 2-legged kids b/c I never wanted children. I do, however, have 4-legged furkids and I am 100% their mom and they are my babies.They are treated better than many human children in this world and they're definitely better behaved than many human kids.

May 25
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Past Member .

2:44PM PDT on May 24, 2012

I don't have any children so I do call my dogs my babies.

May 24
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Lika S.

3:00AM PDT on May 23, 2012

My cats are my babies. My human one is 12, and is my young man already. I don't have pictures in my wallet, but I have a photo album special for my pets.

I don't do the birthdays, but, when we have holidays, I make them a special treat as well. They are in on the family celebrations. If we go elsewhere, I give them gourmet canned treats.

My cats even act as if am their "mama".