A large number of Americans are avid fans of their pets.
It’s no lie: Not only do they treat them as an extra member of the family, but also shower them with love and praise. In fact, there is a growing concern that this traditional bond could have taken a turn for unhealthier ways.
In fact, the number of pets present in households in the United States has risen dramatically. Hence, in response to this increasing number, the share of dogs and cats that are being covered by pet insurance has also seen an exponential rise.
American pets are loved like nowhere else in the world. In fact, it is estimated that Americans spend a whopping $70 billion on pet-related products as well as their services.
Of course, such a bolstering economy is one of the reasons why this trend is taking place. As is expected, the high income earners are the ones who are spending a large sum of money on their pets.
Here this. There are now even lucrative dog resorts and spas in the more affluent areas of the country.
However, it’s not only about the spas and resorts, and how these pets are living more affluent lifestyles than most humans. What’s really peculiar is the psychological and social variables that are increasingly been seen amongst young adults.
A worrying trend. Human beings have the natural instinct to be loved and accepted. In fact, it is these social interactions that make life extremely beautiful and worth living. People are naturally inclined to interact with one another and support each other.
This is the main reason why human beings marry, and raise nuclear families as their own. However, of late, young adults today are less likely to get married and to have kids as they did a couple of decades ago.
Could these young adults have turned to their pets in order to feel loved and appreciated? Evidence strongly suggests that this could be the case.
Pet ownership is increasingly on the rise among young single adults. In fact, single women are having more pets than their single counterparts, but overall, the numbers in both groups is increasing.
Members of the family being substituted for pets. The psychology also shows that married people are less likely to view their pets as family members as compared to single people.
Which goes to show that the lonelier people are, the more desperate they will be and perceive their pets as having human-like traits and characteristics.
In fact, more and more pets are being placed as a major factor and decider in single people’s real-life decisions, contrary to the past, where marriage and family were at the center of all critical decisions in one’s life.
For example, a 2017 study carried out discovered that 33 percent of first-time millennial home buyers were greatly influenced to buy a house, especially if they were able to find a great space for their dogs.
Another startling factor is the increasing number of emotional support animals that are caring for young adults, surprisingly the single ones.
Could the new surge in pet ownership be in response to an anti-social trend that could be surfacing among millennials? Only time will tell.
That being said, if one wants to study the complex relationships between pets and their owners, as well as how to treat them, one can have a look at the best Vet Tech Programs in Vermont.
Photo by Charles Deluvio
Mia Guerra
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