Approximately two-thirds of US households have at least one pet, with Americans spending $136.8 billion on pets in 2022 versus $123.6 billion in 2021. The trend extends globally with 91 million households in Europe and 31 million in India owning pets. There is a growing concern among animal welfare ethicists and veterinarians that excessive humanization of pets leads to increased dependency and health issues.
The shift towards considering pets as equivalent to children has led to a paradoxical situation where pet owners are becoming overly protective and restrictive, affecting the independence and well-being of pets. James Serpell, an animal welfare ethics professor, highlights the risk of limiting pets' lives by treating them as human equivalents.
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