Should animals talk or should we feel more?

To humanize means to impute human characteristics to some action or attitude made by some individual. In the case of our pets, it is also known as anthropomorphism, because it attributes to animals the physical form, emotions, feelings or behaviors characteristic of humans. We humans often forget that we are also animals connected to the world and nature. The modern way of life in large urban centers

has made us lose our sensitivity and our ability to observe nature and others. Even with so much technology, what is most lacking in modern society today is empathy. Perhaps it is the main tool that has allowed us to evolve and leave behind more primitive attitudes, becoming human beings. The truth is that many modern societies are in need of humanization in order to feel more, understand and help others.

Why humanize?

Giving pets the names and surnames of family members, worrying about their health and disease prevention, losing sleep when they get sick, coming home early so they’re not left alone, throwing a birthday party, having a pet wedding ceremony, sleeping in the same bed, going to the bathroom together, kissing and licking each other’s mouths are all actions and attitudes that for some may seem exaggerated and even unhygienic, but which for many pet owners are part of day-to-day life and care. In recent years, this issue has been the subject of debate, driven by the new family structure that is increasingly accepted by society, the multi-species family. To give you an idea, according to the latest censuses carried out by the IBGE, there are more pets than children in Brazilian households. In addition, during the COVID pandemic, the pet market sector was one of the few sectors that saw growth rather than decline in Brazil’s economic activity.

Humanizing: right or wrong?

I often tell guardians that there is no recipe for a cake and no right or wrong about raising pets; in fact, the actions must be positive for both sides. There’s no point in treating your pet like a child and depriving it of the necessities that the animal species needs to meet animal and collective well-being. But what would that be like? For example, putting on clothes on cold days should be done for those animals that have difficulty regulating their temperature or if the thermal sensation reaches a level of high discomfort. Even so, your pet must be used to the clothes, otherwise they will make him feel scared and uncomfortable while they are on. Kissing your pet on the mouth and allowing them to lick it may seem abhorrent to many people. But many pet owners argue that there are scientific studies linking this type of interaction with increased immune system protection in humans. On the other hand, if

I always warn about the risk of being contaminated with bacteria, pathogenic fungi and even contracting worms. Cats have a habit of licking their bodies and dogs of sniffing, licking and sometimes even eating their own feces or that of other dogs. Another point often raised in my consultations is whether you can sleep with your pets in the same bed. This habit may seem harmless, but I have patients who develop territoriality in bed and attack their sleeping guardians when they move and invade the space that the pet has defined as theirs, causing crises in the emotional relationship when the guardians are a couple who sleep together. Another consequence that can arise when we sleep with our pets is their increased dependence on our presence and their inability to be left alone for short and especially long periods of the day. In addition to the hygiene issue already raised, our pets go to the bathroom and don’t clean themselves, increasing the amount of fecal coliforms in the places where they sit and lie down. With the exception of cats, which have the ability and habit of licking their private parts. So at that moment I remind them of the kisses and the strengthened immune system, the bacteria, fungi and worms. In other words, we can humanize care by giving love, affection and positive interactions. However, it’s very important that we offer the minimum conditions for each pet to be what is expected for the species, whether it’s a conventional pet (dogs and cats) or an unconventional one (reptiles, rodents, birds, pigs).

The other side of the coin

Unfortunately, even with the growth in the number of pets kept at home, owners considering them members of the family and the growing market. Many people dehumanize care and abandon their pets. It is estimated that there are around 30 million abandoned animals in Brazil today. This problem not only has negative consequences for the abandoned individuals, but also for society. Since these animals are spread

disease, including fatal zoonoses with no cure, such as rabies. In addition, they can cause traffic accidents, attack people in the street and tear through garbage bags in search of human food scraps, spreading dirt around the city and attracting animals considered to be pests. Fortunately, through educational actions and participation in political debates, civil society has achieved a number of victories. These include implementing the issue in educational campaigns in schools and laws that punish people who mistreat animals.