article/essay

Article from Dr. Milani

What are the down falls of viewing pets as family members?
If we elevate pets to a non human level we may undermine and not respect the needs of the animal. Dr. Milani says, "The bad news... (a lack) of knowledge and respect for each pet's unique species and individual physical, behavioral, and bond needs." We must remember that animals are not people and that they DO have different needs from our own.
In some cases, people view their pets in such high regard that the pet takes priority over the rest of the human family. Sometimes people get pets to fill an empty nest. For instance, the kids go off to college and mom gets a dog to fill her maternal needs. If mom treats the dog as a real child, the dog can become dominant and run the household. The dog will develop behavior problems, become unstable because the canine needs aren't being met and could attack anyone who tries to interfere/interact with mom.

Can both humans and animals benefit from the human-pet bond?
Yes. Many people know studies have shown that humans can benefit greatly from the presence of and relationship with animals. However, research is revealing that animals also benefit from us. Dr. Milani says, "Both human and animal have more opportunities to experience the positive physiological and effects of the human-animal bond. We all know about the benefits animal companionship offers humans in the form of improved health and mental well-being. Other studies indicate that quality human interaction yields similar benefits for our pets." The most important part for a healthy relationship between ourselves and our pets is developing appropriate human-animal family values.