The excessive humanization of pets in society and the impact on their well-being
The increasing trend of treating pets as members of the family can lead to practices that do not respect their physical and psychological well-being, according to Andrea Milá, spokesperson for the French platform ‘Lend me your dog’. The platform, which has 70,000 users in Spain, facilitates a shared care system between owners who need help with their dog and people looking to meet dogs, allowing individuals to experience the responsibility of having a pet before committing full time.
This impulsivity is evident in the high volume of pet abandonment, particularly after the Christmas season, as highlighted in a recent study by the Affinity Foundation, which reported more than 288,000 dogs and cats collected by shelters in Spain in 2022.
The availability to take care of the animal and its economic cost are cited as reasons for abandonment, with only a small percentage of animals in Spain having insurance coverage. The need for potential pet owners to invest in their care and health is also emphasized, including understanding their specific needs, routines, and potential illnesses.
To address these issues, there are calls for the promotion of public health insurance for pets and the creation of a government program to make these services more accessible, as well as the application of the new Animal Welfare Law as a step towards the protection of animals, including the disappearance of the category of “potentially dangerous” dogs.
As society continues to face challenges in the respect for animals, it is important to recognize and address the impact of the humanization of pets on their well-being and the responsibility of pet ownership.