Feb. 3, 2021
Reform Pet Social Status:
Pets greatly benefit human health and welfare. A plethora of studies have determined our furry companions encourage physical activity and fitness amongst us humans. Our companions can reduce our stress and lower our blood pressure. They also induce the human bodies production of hormones associated with pleasure, speed recovery of cardiac patients, and reduce the change of a child’s development of asthma, eczema, and allergies. Our furry friends ALSO provide psychological benefits to our mental health. Studies show our companions affect child development, provide companionship and psychological comfort for seniors and Alzheimer patients. They improve our overall mental health, enhance self-esteem, and ease anxieties, depression, and grief.
Our pets’ genuine worth is far greater than any “possession” one owns. A recent study showed 63.2% of individuals that have pets see their pets as part of the family. It seems that the vast majority of pet people have defined their dogs and cats “social identity” to be that of a cherished member of the family. There is an emotional bond that is formed that one can only get from the love of a pet.
The veterinarian industry is banking on our intense emotional bonds with our fur babies- especially when we “humanize” our pets. It has been estimated that Americans spend approximately $28 billion dollars a year on veterinary services. The more the individual humanizes the pet the more they are willing to invest in the pets’ health. It amazes me that in human medicine, you always hear about changes to health policies, either being updated or scrutinized. Yet in the vet world nothing has changed since what, 1950? Veterinarians are still getting away making their profits on over vaccinations, medications with deadly side effects, and surgeries in attempts to fix what the over vaccinations and medications caused. By the time this process has come to fruition, your companion may have become deathly ill and passed.
We just went over all of the positive attributes a pet brings to their pet parent. I do not think you can put a dollar sign or “market value” when you are in court. Personally, I suffer from severe anxiety. This usually leads to insomnia. Otis was always by my side. Whenever I started to feel anxious I knew he was right there. At night, when I was awake he would snuggle in on me and begin to snore. That snore of his always put me right to sleep. It was so soothing to me (a snore I know) and feeling the warmth of his body on mine. I cannot put a dollar sign on what type of value that was for me. For me it was priceless. No possession I owned could possibly come close to it. And there is absolutely nothing that could possibly replace it. However, justice and accountability would be nice.
The legal system needs to understand that if our companion animals (proven through scientific research) can help us shed negative physical and psychological abnormalities, what state of condition will we be in having lost our major source of support through vet-mal? Not only will we no longer have our “remedy” for anxiety or insomnia, but it is going to increase ailments ten-fold. If science is going to inform us of all the positive advantages to human health that pets provide then they need to research the other side as well- what will happen to our physical/psychological state when our faithful friend is no longer with us. What will happen when we are alone?
Politics, etc. will only go so far on a pet’s social identity and will only approve humanizing to an extent. They know if they did not hold back then pets would not be considered property. Their life would be worth something. Veterinarians who harmed them would receive full accountability. There would be total reform. But the politicians and veterinary board members do not want that to happen. They want it just like how it is now (possibly earlier since pet parents have become “woke.”) where the majority of pet parents are still blindly trusting their vet and not asking pro-active questions. The power players- the Mars Corp, the AVMB President, the local veterinarian would lose power. And for them power is money, credibility, and access to clients.
So where do we go from here? We continue to educate ourselves on what is truly best for our pets. We research reviews and leave insightful reviews. We advocate and create awareness on how the vet system is failing our pets. We go into the vet appointment not already respecting the vet but waiting for the vet to actually earn the respect. We ask questions. We ask for second opinions. We ask more questions. At the end of the day we do for our beloved companions what is in their best interest. You know your pet a lot more than your vet ever would. Advocate and protect them. They cannot, so be their voice.