The Basis for Pet Ownership - Assignment Example

 The Basis for Pet Ownership Pet ownership is becoming more common across the world as countries of different types become more urbanized and have developed infrastructures. From the more domesticated animal, such as the dog and cat, to more intense and exotic pets, such as the iguana or the boa constrictor, people are finding personal connection and happiness with their pet selections. This growth in pet ownership across the globe, especially more noticeable in the United States, is due to a variety of different personal reasons at the emotional level. People are, today, buying pets because they have been reported as having the ability to sense the emotional and physical health conditions of people, to help children cope with daily living, and even as a tool to improve their physical fitness and recreational lifestyles. Pets are multi-faceted creatures that can bring considerable benefit to today’s household environments. A recent essay in The New England Journal of Medicine describes a heartwarming story about a typical house cat that is able to sense when nursing home patients are nearing the time of their death (Dosa, 240). Apparently, some house cats can somehow sense or smell when people are reaching their final hours and can alert others that death is nearing or that the patient requires immediate attention. Those in society who are shut away, such as the elderly widow with few relatives to rely on for support, would definitely benefit from the proposed ability of cats to sense their health status and alert people to assist. This would be a very beneficial reason for buying a cat, especially if extended family members of the aging individual lived hundreds or even thousands of miles away. By having a pet watching over the elderly, they can not only provide support, but can make noises to alert anyone else nearby that they should check on the aging or frail pet owner. “In ancient times and in cultures worldwide, animals have been respected as essential partners in human survival, health and healing” (Walter and McCoyd, 19). Throughout history, as nations began to develop and urbanize, animals have been recognized for their ability to contribute to the health of citizens and have therefore been incorporated into the household environment for these purposes. In China, over 2,500 years ago, even the Buddha taught different creatures about their various weaknesses and strengths so that they could guide others in society to help them grow (Walter and McCoyd, 21). People who share these traditional beliefs, where creatures of nature are important and respected parts of the health and wellness life cycle, would find pets to be very important to their lives, in some cases similar to that of a vitamin supplement. Children, also, are especially drawn to pets because they have the ability to help them cope with everyday living by offering them a companion in times of emotional need. Over three-quarters of children, in today’s United States, live with pets (Walsh, 482). Especially in households where there is only a single child, the bond with pets becomes stronger because a good majority of their recreational time is spent with the animal rather than with other children in the household. This type of single child environment has the child sharing their after-school snacks and curling up close during homework and other obligations. In many ways, the pet becomes a trusted companion that is always available for support in everyday living. Says one parent of a child pet owner, “Our pets bring out the best in the kids’ responsibility, kindness, affection, first-aid, and concern for other living things” (Walsh, 482). This shows that parents believe that pets are multi-faceted creatures that offer a diverse variety of positive benefits on children of all ages. The pets’ supposed ability to create happier children and also help them to gain important life skills for the future in terms of responsibility and education, make pets ideal for helping children to develop and prepare for adulthood. Furthermore, the idea that pets can help children to find concern for other living things, as pointed out by the parent of a child pet owner, is interesting to discuss. According to two respected members of the psychological community, children develop their most important personality traits during childhood which typically guide their adult behaviors for the rest of their lives (Morris and Maisto, 281). It would seem that having a pet gives the child the awareness of the skills and obligations it takes to make the pet happy and healthy, such as providing regular food and water changing. Further, the child must take the pet outdoors regularly for recreation and also to relieve themselves of waste. When the child realizes that the pet’s survival relies on their talents and their ability to take excellent care of the animal, this provides them the tools for taking care of children in the future should they decide to become parents. For the health and well-being of future children in society, today’s pets are great motivators for helping youths identify with taking care of other living creatures. In some households, pets have even become so important in the family structure that they are virtually indistinguishable from other family members. For example, a recent study on 24 different men with histories of domestic violence offered that many of their explosive outbursts of anger were related to alcohol use, jealousy, problems with their partner, and the household pet (Fenton and Rathus, 149). What this shows is that the pet, much like the child, can create debate with different members or leaders of the household, where their importance is so strong that aggressors in the house actually become enraged over decision-making about the animal. What this tends to show is that the animal, when introduced into the household, is taken so seriously by members of the family that it is approached with the same powerful emotions that one would feel about humans in terms of their role in the house and decision-making about the pets’ future. When school children are asked to reflect on deaths in their lifetimes, nearly 80 percent of them discuss their pets’ death even greater than deaths of their actual human family members (Walter and McCoyd). This, again, shows the important emotional bond that pets play in the household for their ability to make lasting impressions on family members and can even spark debate when people disagree about their role or treatment. People also consider pets to be important in helping them to achieve physical fitness and also to improve their social life. Especially noticeable in urban areas, people run with their dogs through parks or down the sidewalk, giving both the pet and their owners the fitness skills for a lifetime. Says Charlotte McKenney, assistant director of a respected research organization, “More people are incorporating pets into their leisure time, such as making them part of their exercise routines, taking them to dog parks, and bringing them to family events” (Johnson, 15). This shows that pet ownership is becoming so popular for fitness and exercise that it has even prompted researchers to begin developing studies to show how the pet impacts the lifestyle of humans. In terms of improving the pet owners’ social life, pets are often used as a medium for discussion when people do not know how to approach others socially. For example, consider a young woman, who is typically shy and introverted, and is looking for a potential romantic interest. During a vacation trip, travelling alone, the individual can take along their beloved animal in order to bridge the interpersonal gap when looking for romance. The shy woman needs only to take the animal into visible areas, parade it around, and it will eventually capture the attention of another individual who will remark about the animal’s beauty. This provides the opportunity for the pet owner to begin the conversation which could, in a best case scenario, lead to a long-term love interest that all started with the pet and the intelligence to bring the animal along on holiday. Socially, people also choose pets because they have the ability to expose people to more situations. For example, in an urban environment where the pet owner has very little property, the pet owner might be forced to take the animal to a local park in order to ensure it gets the right amount of exercise and fitness. During a visit to this park or other natural environment, meetings with different members of society occur and create new friendships. If the individual had not purchased their pet, their current circle of friends would not be available (those met in the park), meaning that pets have the ability to actually change the future lifestyle direction of their owners. When considered this way, pets are almost magical in their ability to improve social lifestyle. Much of the discussion has been about domesticated animals, such as the dog and the cat, however the exotic and, sometimes, more fearsome creatures become the household delight. For example, some people have begun keeping boa constrictors and other snakes in their households, trying to be different from others in society and make their impression on others. There is a philosophy in the science of psychology which states that people often build their decision-making on the direct opinion of their peers in society (Morris and Maisto, 391). This social phenomenon is even witnessed in advertising and marketing where people are actually drawn toward the purchase of a particular product variety simply because their trust social circle finds value in this product. Having an exotic pet, such as the boa constrictor, is so uncommon that others in society are likely going to have immediate and sometimes concerned reactions about the exotic animal. For the individual that lacks self-confidence or other vital tools for successful living, exotic pet ownership can build positive emotional outcomes such as better interpersonal connection or self-esteem. Consider the following situation: A young man, with troubles identifying with others in society, purchases a large snake to improve his social standing. In a short period of time, word-of-mouth discussions are going to be created in different households about their experiences with the pet snake. A somewhat unpopular man, with the purchase of an exotic animal, can suddenly become popular through no effort of his own, other than pet ownership and a taste for the exotic. This would be a definite motivation for some members of society to seek out exotic pets to improve their social position. Others simply want pets because they believe they will be easy to care for. Simple household pets, like the goldfish or the iguana, require very little care and maintenance and do not demand high financial cost for ensure they are fed properly. People who have little time for the ongoing care and physical needs of pet ownership, but appreciate the beauty of nature, might turn toward the goldfish to fill their immediate needs to be close with nature. A sparkling fish tank, with goldfish lazily swimming across the landscape, can provide emotional fitness for people who have little personal time but a strong need to look at beautiful creatures in serene environments. There is no better way to fill this need than through pet ownership of animals that are, essentially, very low-maintenance. Pets, of all varieties, also seem to have the ability to break down gender roles among different child groups, something that has very positive benefits in society. “Young boys feel comfortable crying about the loss of a pet, even in a group” (Walter and McCoyd, 27). In most societies, the male is raised to have specific gender expectations that are passed down by their parents and grandparents, and even from others in society, regarding what is acceptable behavior for males versus females. In most societies, these demands include emotional strength and physical strength. Young boys who might cry in certain social situations could be opening themselves up for bullying or other social pressures when they show weakness or step outside of their expected gender role. However, with many boys not being afraid to cry when they have lost a beloved pet, it shows that the pet has the ability to break down social stereotypes and allow boys to show signs of behavior that are often attributed to the female personality type. Pets, as social tools, are very important and can even change social viewpoints about gender role identification. Some people have pets simply because they are lonely and do not know how to find another suitable companion. Especially for the aged, who are often abandoned and patronized after they have reached a certain age, pets can provide constant companionship when others in society feel they are no longer relevant. For example, an 85 year old man, who lost his wife over a decade ago, may have found that he appreciated the constant discussion which was ongoing when his wife was living. After her death, the household might be just too eerily quiet and need a new voice to make the elderly man happy. In this situation, a lively puppy or cat is the ideal companion since they are generally low-cost and can provide years of lasting opportunity to maintain discussion to avoid loneliness and despair of solitude and silence. There are so many advantages to having a pet and countless different, personal reasons why people in society prefer to have pets in their households. There are clearly health benefits that come from having pets and there is a certain type of security for many people, of all ages, knowing that if they fall ill that their pet will likely respond or notify others of the problem. For older people living alone, this sense of security likely helps them to take on their daily lives and obligations. It was identified that people also purchase pets to change how others in society view them, either through being used as a medium to improve social communications or simply to expose pet owners to different social environments to cure boredom or simple, everyday loneliness. With all of these different benefits of having pets, it is no wonder that people of all different demographic groups, all around the world, seek out having pets to improve their lives in a very broad type of way. Fitness-minded people want pets because they give the incentive and the opportunity to explore running or other exercise projects. No matter what the personal motivation, pets, including the exotic animals, give people a positive viewpoint on life and become very important, respected members of the family household. It is likely that many people who are lonely in today’s society, or looking for a relationship but are simply too shy, could find value and benefit in pet ownership and should explore this option immediately. The benefits of having a pet definitely outweigh any potential problems with their ownership. It should never be said that owning a pet is too much hassle since the evidence against it is stacked so highly. Works Cited Dosa, David. Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat. Hyperion Publishing, 2010, p.240. Fenton, B. and J. Rathus. “Men’s Self-Reported Descriptions and Precipitants of Domestic Violence Perpetration as Reported in Intake Evaluations”. Journal of Family Violence, New York. Vol. 25, Iss, 2, 2010, p.149. Johnson, Rebecca. “A pet in your life keeps the doctor away”. Psychology & Psychiatry Journal, Atlanta. University of Missouri-Columbia, 2009. Morris, C. and M. Maisto. Psychology: An Introduction. 12th ed. Pearson Prentice Hall. Walsh, Froma. “Human-Animal Bonds II: The Role of Pets in Family Systems and Family Therapy”. Family Process, Oxford. Vol. 48, Iss.4, 2009, p.19. Walter, C. and J. McCoyd. Grief and Loss Across the Lifespan: A Biopsychosocial Perspective. New York: Springer Publishing Company, 2009. Outline I. Introduction and Thesis “Pets are multi-faceted creatures that can bring considerable benefit to today’s household environments”. II. Pets as health-sensors III. Pets and children IV. Pets and their household roles V. Pets and their ability to improve health and fitness VI. The ability of pets to provide better social lifestyle VII. The exotic animals VIII. Low-maintanence pets IX. Pets and the ability to break down gender roles X. The elderly and pets XI. Conclusion Read More