Anthropomorphizing our pets

[Maleficent13]

When did we start doing this?

I am not that old, but I do remember a time when pets were pets, not siblings for children. Many of them earned their keep (protection, mousetrap, herder, etc). Quite a few of them were "outdoor" pets.

Don't get me wrong; I like animals. I do not like to see them mistreated. I spay/neuter, get all shots, regular checkups, collars with tags, dogs never outside without a lead, cats not outside at all.

But based on some threads here lately, I just got curious as to when this trend of owning "furbabies" and not "pets" started.

 

[lovetomow]

I find it scary that some people put animals (call them what you want they are still animals) on the same level as real live human beings!

 

[Jack-Jack]

It all started with lol cats. Or Bambi. One or the other.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

35,000 years ago.

The anthropomorphism of dogs began at the same time as their association with humans. Humans selectively allowed those wolves they found "cute" to breed. Often, they selected for traits that they could associate with: bigger eyes, smaller noses...in essence traits that made dogs more "human-like" and their expressions more readable.

Now, as to when we started treating our pets more like...say...children, that's another question. My suggested answer would be with the advent and proliferation of reliable birth control methods. People didn't have time previously to baby their pets, because they had real babies at such an early age. Now we delay the onset of pregnancy, while our improved nutrition and hormone infused foods make for an earlier onset of adult characteristics. We want 9and are physically able to) have babies at an earlier age, but we're holding off on actually having any until our 30's. To replace this emptiness in our lives, we get pets.

 

[lilyv]

That's a great question. Hang on, I have to go ask my cat what he thinks and then I'll get back to you.

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

I started treating my bird like a human when he started yelling at my kids for fighting.

Now that he watches them for me, I save on babysitters.

 

[Christopher Robin]

Whenever it happened, it's annoying.

 

[Jack-Jack]

Hey Mal13, the anthro...um...personification of inanimate objects has already begun. Have you seen happy chair? emo faucet?

 

[MushyMushy]

I don't know, but I don't like it. I think it does the animals a great disservice to treat them like humans and expect human-types of responses from them. I've always felt that way and it's great to see people like Cesar Millan out there confirming it.

 

[4cruisin]

Not an intelligent post but here goes,
I prefer my cat to most humans because,

1. She asks nothing from me in return for affection.

2. There is no being talked about behind my back or being judged for what I do or have or not have.

3. She doesn't cause me undue worry. (Staying out late, etc)

4. Costs much less than most children do.

5. I can leave her home for a weekend and not worry about a party being held at my house.

6. She doesn't ask to borrow my clothes.

7. I don't usually get talked back to when she is being scolded.

8. No college tuition costs. I can save for my retirement.

I could go on and on. Of course this is somewhat tongue in cheek but most of it is true. I certainly know the difference of a pet vs a human or child but I absolutely love my cat and she knows it. There is nothing wrong with loving a pet and being enamored by it.

 

[4cruisin]

That's a great question. Hang on, I have to go ask my cat what he thinks and then I'll get back to you.

 

[Maleficent13]

Hey Mal13, the anthro...um...personification of inanimate objects has already begun. Have you seen happy chair? emo faucet?

What are you talking about?

 

[DisTeach1]

Well, I agree, and if you've seen my other thread today, you know I have debated how much I can spend to get my puppy fixed. But my animals just are not on the same level as my family members...period.

Case in point...I recently put to sleep my 18 year old Cockapoo who was a devoted dog and who loved me to death. It was difficult but she was very old. When it was over, at the end of the day, I sat outside on my patio with a glass of wine, and reminisced with my husband. I was sad, but I know she had a great life and her time had come. I was totally at peace with her passing.

I guarantee you if my mother had died or my son, I would not be sitting with a glass of wine, totally at peace with their deaths.

And, not to reiterate another thread, but I can't spend unlimited amounts of money to fix my animals. I just can't justify it.

 

[luvwinnie]

I find it scary that some people put animals (call them what you want they are still animals) on the same level as real live human beings!

You realize animals are REAL and LIVE also, right?

 

[luvwinnie]

I don't know, but I don't like it. I think it does the animals a great disservice to treat them like humans and expect human-types of responses from them. I've always felt that way and it's great to see people like Cesar Millan out there confirming it.

I agree with you there...the people who expect dogs to react like humans and who throw sentences at them and then get irritated when they can't understand them...well, I have no patience for them.

 

[Doesney]

anthropomorphize


Main Entry: an·thro·po·mor·phize
Pronunciation: \-ˌfīz\
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): an·thro·po·mor·phized; an·thro·po·mor·phiz·ing
Date: 1845
transitive verb
: to attribute human form or personality to
intransitive verb
: to attribute human form or personality to things not human
— an·thro·po·mor·phi·za·tion \-ˌmȯr-fə-ˈzā-shən\ noun

 

[CarolG]

I understand that we miss our pets when they're gone, but would you publish an obituary notice in the newpaper?

http://www.legacy.com/macon/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=105261392

 

[Maleficent13]

anthropomorphize


Main Entry: an·thro·po·mor·phize
Pronunciation: \-ˌfīz\
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): an·thro·po·mor·phized; an·thro·po·mor·phiz·ing
Date: 1845
transitive verb
: to attribute human form or personality to
intransitive verb
: to attribute human form or personality to things not human
— an·thro·po·mor·phi·za·tion \-ˌmȯr-fə-ˈzā-shən\ noun

Thank you, Funk & Wagnalls.

 

[okeydokey]

My brother and sister-in-law do this. They take their dog everywhere and if you don't want their dog at your house, they get mad and may not come. My SIL cries saying goodbye to her dog before vactions.

 

[maelstrom]

My cat is my child. I love her just as much as any parent would love their human child. She's very much a member of this family.