Should we embrace pets as little furry humans, or should pets just stay pets? Stephanie Stefanovic discusses the pros and cons of pet humanisation.

With the rise in popularity of words like “fur baby”, it is clear that people are increasingly humanising their pets. Australians are no exception, with many Aussies treating their pets like their own children. From eating specialty food to competing in beauty pageants, pets are now more human-like than ever. Whilst treating pets like children may bring pleasure to many pet owners, there are some cases in which pets should just be pets, say experts.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world, with approximately 63% of households owning a pet. In a 2013 survey commissioned by the Animal Health Alliance (AHA), nearly 90 per cent of pet owners surveyed consider their pet to be a part of their family. Many of the pet owners even admitted that they often treat their pets better than their human family members.

The AHA has judged pet care to be an $8 billion industry, with Australians increasingly choosing to spend money on gourmet food, spa treatments and insurance for their pets. Whilst this is good for the pet care industry, it can become a problem for the pets themselves, especially in regards to food. According to petcircle.com.au founder Mike Frizell, it is now quite common for pet owners to cook meals for their pets, or to share meals with them. This however is leading to a growing trend in pet obesity.

“Often owners have the best intentions but don’t realise [pets] have different nutritional requirements to humans so may inadvertently be feeding their pets a poorly balanced diet, by cooking at home. Modern high quality pet food has come a long way over the years and now has all the proper nutrition [pets] need for a balanced diet,” said Mike.

Pets offer people the chance to experience love and companionship, and many owners want to give back to their pets. However, pet owners need to understand that whilst many of the latest pet care trends are harmless, there are certainly instances in which pets should stay pets!