Andrea Laurent-Simpson: ‘Dog Mom’ and more – we’re living in multispecies families now. Here’s what it means

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The evidence of new families intermingled with humans and pets came long before we even considered what to call them.

“Multi-Species Families” captures the scientific essence, but the lifestyle and character of this four-legged / two-legged companion go far and even come with a glossary: ​​Dog Mom; Puppy child; Puppet; Big cat; Daddy’s girl. And on and on.

Andrea Laurent-Simpson and some of her family members

The elevated condition of pets is undeniable, and it’s no surprise that family dynamics are adjusting. Divorce courts are now reviewing custody of the family’s pet. Millennial homebuyers often pass on a home that is unsuitable for their dog. It has become routine for pet rescue operations to take place before disaster-struck property is destroyed.

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As of 2018, nearly 61% of US households owned pets, with dogs and cats topping the popularity list. Research by the American Veterinary Medical Association confirms our boundless bond: 85% of dog owners and 76% of cat owners have their furry companions as part of their family. And amid a global pandemic, American spending on these family members exceeded $ 103 billion in 2020 – a $ 6 billion increase from 2019 spending.

I am a researcher at SMU Dallas studying the evolving multispecies family. My recent book, Just Like a Family: How the Companion Animal Entered the Household, examines how we have changed up to this point. After 100 hours of observation at a veterinary clinic, dozens of interviews with pet owners, and analysis of numerous print advertisements flooding the media, it is evident that pets are more than just ordinary “family members”.

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In my discipline, researchers speak of identities that we associate with the family: “mom”, “dad”, “grandmother”, “brother” or “sister”. The presence of these types of identities, expanded to include pets, tells us that American society has passed the dog’s door of a new order.

The way multi-species families appear depends on the type of human family / household that an animal companion belongs to:

Homes without children (of your choice) – “I don’t spend enough time with my dog ​​so I’m trying to change my schedule so she has that time with me.”

Households in which people cannot have human children – “Reading a story to my dog ​​is something she looks forward to every night!”

“Grandparents” are also there – with activities like babysitting, financial support for expensive veterinary procedures and sharing pictures of the big cat with friends.

Families with children – “Siblings” and “best friends” for children who see the family dog ​​as playmates and confidants and working parents who depend on a four-legged family to greet their children after school.

Of course, it took time for today’s multi-species family to develop. 19th century working dogs and cats became entertaining pets in the 19th century. The social guilt for the mistreatment of animals during the industrial revolution made us more likely to spoil the family cat. Scientists argue that the realization that animals – dogs and cats in particular – had personalities and emotions in the 1970s led us to think differently about them.

Our emerging post-pandemic world is the latest evidence of how these “patch” families are forcing massive institutional change.

But the multi-species family is also rooted in the same historical processes as other non-traditional families. Before the industrial revolution, parents focused on staying alive and having children in order to provide for families. But industrialization brought higher standards of living, lower death rates and longer lives. This enabled us to focus less on survival and more on thriving – opening our lives to the possibility of self-happiness. Childless families, single parents, falling marriage rates, and (temporarily) rising divorce rates have all emerged from these changes in modern society.

This state has also fathered fully mixed families in which both human and furry nonhuman residents alike enjoy the spoils of modern life. For childless families – a category that has grown significantly over the past 50 years – the question was asked and answered whether a child could make them happy. Dogs and cats reach out to satisfy a longing.

“Grandparents” willingly go to pampering their grandchildren as their daughters and sons choose lucrative careers instead. And parents with children today see happiness and self-esteem as paramount in raising healthy, happy adults – the sibling dog is a perfect relationship for furthering those goals.

The buckling of our cats in the seat belts and the taking of the dog in the stroller show that this multi-species arrangement remains. When enough families change in who can be treated as a child, sibling, or grandchild, the broader cultural and institutional landscapes take up these new ideas.

Our emerging post-pandemic world is the latest evidence of how these “patch” families are forcing massive institutional change. Gen Zers, and Millennials in particular, are willing to quit their jobs out of concern for their multi-species family. And the record drop in US birth rates caused by the pandemic in 2020 likely indicates more childless couples will start new multi-species families.

In our new normal, institutional actors, from political decision-makers for social safety nets to house builders and employers, have to pay attention to the multi-species family like never before. Impoverished families who are struggling to feed themselves must also have policies in place that help with veterinary care and feeding of their dogs and cats – otherwise they may be forced to give up their “family” in unprecedented ways.

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It will be up to home builders and real estate agents to design or locate homes that cater to both human and non-human needs – if not, these multi-species families will seek shelter elsewhere.

And employers struggling to hire and retain burnt-out workers from the pandemic must realize that nearly three-quarters of pet owners are afraid of leaving pets at home now. Management needs to reflect that – or face an even more difficult field as other companies entice workers by offering flexible policies for pets in the workplace and dog day care on campus.

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