Pet parenthood the new family structure

Pets are replacing children with increasing frequency

- SREYA DEB

IT'S NO SECRET that populations across the world are seeing a decline — reflected in part in the growing number of nuclear households opting not to bear children.

A flip side of this global phenomenon is the rate at which a child's place in the family is being taken up by pet animals. Families or couples with pets are now referred to as 'pet parents' rather than ‘owners’, and why not? The luxuries and pampering reserved for the children of the household are meted out in equal measure to the family pet.

Measures to curb populations as well as factors like cost of education and living has resulted in more and more adults choosing not to have children. Young couples, particularly millennials and Gen Z-ers are opting to raise pets instead of children. As the rate of childbirth decreases in societies, the rate of dog ownership has increased alongside.

Seeing a dog peeking out of a baby stroller being pushed by the owner is not an uncommon sight these days. A study published under the Social Sciences Research Network analysed fertility rates, childbirth, pet registries and ownership in Taiwan, and found that rather than being an attempt to replace children, citizens are using animals as a kind of practice run, before the commitment of an actual child. Similar practices have been growing across the UK, USA and parts of Europe as well.