The noticeable increase in the number of households with pets is evident today. A survey conducted by IBGE in 2013 found that the number of families with pets had long surpassed the number of families with children. According to this survey, out of every 100 families in Brazil, 44 had dogs, while only 36 had children. And although we do not have recent scientific data, the increase from 2013 to last year is undeniably significant. Undoubtedly, the market for companies specializing in products and services for so-called pets has seen a surprising surge in recent years in the country. But the question many ask is: Why are people preferring to have pets and having fewer children?
This issue involves a social, cultural, and biological transformation that has been discussed by various scientific fields. It is common to hear as an answer to this question that the love of an animal is unconditional, that it is more understanding and available to give attention, and that it does not make demands. From a psychological viewpoint, it needs to be considered that people are becoming increasingly intolerant.
A large portion of the population finds it very difficult to deal with frustration. Being disappointed seems much more painful nowadays. Therefore, it is often heard as an answer to the above question that with an animal there is less possibility of disappointment, that it is more loyal, and that it is easier to know what to expect from it; while predicting the problems that a child can cause when they grow up is almost impossible.
Undoubtedly, people are increasingly concerned about expenses and financial issues. There is a greater concern about saving for the future. People’s priorities seem to have changed. Women prioritize their careers. Couples prioritize freedom, material goods, and travel. Many argue that raising pets is cheaper than raising children.
Abandonment is one of the first feelings that a human being, still a baby, learns to cope with when forced to leave the comfort and security of the mother’s womb. And abandonment is also one of the deepest pains that humans carry throughout their lives and that they increasingly seek to avoid. Anyone can abandon you; a child, husband, friend… Hence the argument that an animal never abandons the family.
Moreover, it is not uncommon to hear the justification that “it is easier to deal with animals than with people.” This, along with everything mentioned above, highlights that social relationships are deteriorating. There is a general lack of patience in resolving conflicts and an increasing concern for oneself, to the point where people are less available to others. Affection, hugs, and comfort have become more scarce. In light of all this, what we need to ask ourselves is: How will society function in 50 years? What kind of emotional structure will we leave as a legacy for future generations? Pets are indeed sources of love and great companions, but to what extent should they replace the absence of human relationships?
Thais Clemente