Do I Own a Pet or Do I Have a Child? Part 1

Do I own a pet or do I have a child?  That is a question many pet owners wouldn't even consider a tongue-in-cheek question.  For those of you who took that question at face value you've already answered :)  Having been a pet sitter for well over a decade I have been around many pets and pet owners and one thing is for certain, some people own a pet and some people have a furry child.  Humor me and ask yourself if you ever say the following things to your pet(s):

"Don't make me tell you again!"
"Hold-on, I'll be there in a minute!"
"Awww maybe later."
"You better get moving this instant!"
"What were you thinking?"
"Hello booty butt!  Momma gonna spank your butt" (yes, that one is used at my house)

All of those statements were taken directly from a recent list I came across of things mothers say to their children.  If you're grinning a little you aren't alone.  A recent study found that women truly think of their dogs as children.  While the study didn't include men I'm guessing that for many men the results would be very similar.  The researcher who conducted the study looked at the brain activity of the women in the study.  The women each had at least one child between the ages of two and 10, and were also dog owners at the same time. Questionnaires and the results of viewing photos of both their children and dogs left little doubt:  As it pertains to dogs and babies, women didn't see a huge difference.  As a matter of fact, according to the researchers some women even responded more strongly to photos of their dogs than their children.

Lead researcher of the study, Lori Palley of Massachusetts General Hospital, explained, "Pets hold a special place in many people's hearts and lives, and there is compelling evidence from clinical and laboratory studies that interacting with pets can be beneficial to the physical, social and emotional wellbeing of humans."

We live in a world where not a only a few .com companies allow pets to be brought to work but several Fortune 500 corporations allow, even promote, bringing pets - albeit typically dogs - to the workplace.  Why?  For the same reasons researchers found created such strong ties between the  women who participated in the aforementioned study... happiness, warmth, security, comfort.  Its the same reason that many nursing homes not only allow but encourage dogs and cats be brought to visit their residents.  The animals generate feelings of happiness and joy in the patients.

So, when you hear a woman or man saying things like, "Momma gonna spank your butt!" or "Who wants their dinner?"  or "who's my bestest baby?!" keep in mind that they aren't crazy or an emotional "softie."  They are expressing very real feelings for a pet.  A pet that is, speaking scientifically,  their furry child ;)

All of this emotional outpouring is wonderful.  However it can create some problems.  Problems that aren't insurmountable and problems that I'll be addressing in part 2 of this blog.