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We Treat Our Pets Like People Because We Can't Rely On Humans Anymore

Next thing you know, we'll be teaching Fido how to speak German, take out the trash, and pick up after himself.

By Delilah JaydePublished 6 years ago 1 min read
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When I discovered puppucinos for the first time, I was flabbergasted. Coffee for dogs, whaat?! There is no way caffeinated bean water is good for my pup, I thought to myself. I can barely make it through a cup of coffee on my own (tea drinker, sorry) and suddenly it was supposed to be trendy to give that stuff to my dog? Of course, I later learned that a puppucino was really just a bit of sugar and whipped cream which of course, I then consulted the internet to find out if it really was OK to give straight whipped cream to my dog. It was in this, unscientifically-biased search that I found the internet as conflicted about this situation as a bunch of parents debating about if they should feed their child McDonalds hamburgers. Long story short: my pup never got his puppucino. The last thing I wanted was to find out that my dog (who, in his own right was already allergic to chicken) was also lactose intolerant. But it did get me thinking... if I wouldn't treat my own dog to a little bit of cream, would I have been as honestly cautious with my own children as I was with my pooch? The true reality is that pets are probably going to take over the world at some point. In a weird way they may already have: our domesticated four-legged companions have luxury homes, designer beds, home-cooked vegan diets and even dedicated yoga classes! Take IKEA as an example. They have a new line of pet items they've lovingly named the Lurvig collection that props our cats on square beds with four legs, aptly lifting the feline into an aerial view of your home while providing our dogs with dog beds that appear as miniature versions of a real couch you might come across in the IKEA couch aisle. Now Rex doesn't have to take up your side of the couch.But it comes down to a lot more than just a new set of comfy furniture: We as a society are spending record amounts of money on our pets that we never used to spend. Global sales of pet products and services in 2016 were $103.5 billion dollars; a 4.7% increase over 2015, which is a growth rate that surpasses many everyday consumer packaged-goods industries.

So: why are we spending so much on our pets?

Euromonitor states that it is because “pet humanization trends continue to accelerate," basically reiterating that we've come to depend on our canine friends to fill a void in our lives meant for our peers. In 2015, a Nielsen survey confirmed that 95% of US pet-owners consider their pets part of the family—a four-legged increase from 88% in 2007. That's a hell of a lot of pet grooming, vet and dog walking bills if you ask me! Even birthdays are a hot commodity: in 2014, U.S. consumers spent $389 million on pet toys alone, with $32 million being spent on chew toys and $8 million on pet ropes. And it doesn't just stop at the Americans: a 2016 survey claimed that 56% of Brits planned to spend more money on Christmas presents for their pets than on gifts for their human family. It really isn't just a rubber toy and a bit of rope anymore: the pet industry has become a multi-billion dollar industry because we've decided to dote on our pets like children. For the most part, a lot of the reason why we might do this is because today's generation is living alone a lot longer, getting married later, and moving out from mom and dad's place sooner. Demographically, we are waiting to have children later on in life, and choosing to fill the space with a fur-baby instead of a real-baby. Who can blame us; politics alone can be to blame for why we have less faith in humans and more faith in cats!

And while modern politics may be 'a dog's dinner', here's how we humanize pets in our every day lives.

While most dogs are probably happy eating that leftover tuna sandwich from your neighbor's garbage can, their meals have become a gourmet affair—pup food often has 'ancient quinoa and whole grains' to boost growth and all good things puppers need, while pet treats are now being made with kale, chia seeds, and some are even gluten-free! (Hey, if I can't have gluten, then why should my dog have it?!) Case in point. And after a long day of puddle splashing, ball chasing and shoe-chewing, why not relax with a bottle of wine? Even your fur-baby can have one too: PetWinery.com sells 'liquid catnip' in bottles labeled with clever names like Purrgundy or Pawgrinon. Because hey: who says you can't turn a terrible pun into a profitable business? And if your dog isn’t a drinker, there are plenty of non-mock-alcoholic beverages available too: a company called the Honest Kitchen sells pumpkin spice lattes and eggnog for dogs. You can, of course, also pick up a puppuccino from Starbucks.After all that schmoozing in the kitt-chen I'm sure your pet could use a bit of exercise and stretching out. Places like P.A.W.S Animal Adoption Center has free cat yoga classes, and Catfe in Vancouver lets you have a latte with your feline bestie. And if your Jewish parents aren't exactly accepting of your dog, why not throw him a Bark Mitzvah? A perfect way to integrate your little guy into the family. It really does seem as though there is no missing idea that we haven't already come up with to consume human years with our furry, four-legged friends. Whether or not our faith in humanity has lacked or we have simply gained a fondness for pets, it is clear that many of us are not ready to give up our cats and dogs for children just yet. And while I continue to wonder what selfishness consumes those who live on the streets with their pets might be thinking, I can also understand the need for companionship in trying times. Not all humans are very good at companionship, and if our pets can fill that void even for the length of their short lifespan, then perhaps it's ok for them to stay a while.
fact or fiction
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About the Creator

Delilah Jayde

You can follow her on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/iamdelilahjayde

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