Recently, the Guangdong Provincial Pet Industry Association reported that over 40 pet dogs in Guangzhou have died, suspected of being poisoned. Many pet owners believe there was a possibility of deliberate poisoning and strongly condemn this heinous act. The incident has once again sparked widespread public discussion about pet ownership.
In fact, the conflict of ideas and emotional antagonism between pet owners and non-pet owners in cities has a long history. Similar incidents have occurred in Beijing, Changsha, Wuhan and other places before. News such as "dog bites people" and "people throw dogs" frequently topped the trending searches, forming two distinct camps in the comments section: "pet lovers" and "pet haters." Both sides held their own opinions, refused to give in, and their views clashed fiercely, sometimes even to the point of being quite "fiery".
Attitudes towards pet ownership are polarized across society. On the one hand, public transportation such as airplanes, high-speed trains, and ride-hailing services are attempting to allow pets to travel, and pet-friendly spaces such as pet cafes, pet parks, and pet restaurants are becoming increasingly common. On the other hand, many shopping malls, shops, and other public places still insist on "pets not allowed," and just a few days ago, a community neighborhood committee even issued a notice "prohibiting residents from keeping pet dogs."
Why do such small pets cause so much controversy? How should one raise a pet?
one
It's noticeable that the "pet content" in our lives is increasing. A stroll in a neighborhood or park often reveals pet owners walking their dogs and "pet lovers" feeding cats; a visit to a bustling city center or shopping mall exposes pet shops, pet exhibitions, and cat cafes to the naked eye; and surfing the internet means being bombarded with adorable pet videos in no time. Statistics show that in 2023, there were 51.75 million pet dogs and 69.8 million pet cats in China. In the eyes of pet owners, pets are—
Stills from "Ten Promises Between a Dog and Me"
"Emotional companionship." The current trend is "parenting-style pet ownership," where pet owners call themselves mothers/fathers, refer to their pets as "fur babies," and devote themselves to them like raising children, willing to "eat dirt themselves to ensure their pets don't run out of food" and "drink more hot water when they are sick, but spend tens of thousands when their cats are sick."
In the eyes of pet owners, pets are loyal friends and close family members, providing warm companionship and emotional support. For young people working far from home, the affection of a pet makes life less lonely and brings life to their rented apartment; for elderly people living alone, a clingy pet can fill a lot of free time and alleviate loneliness. In addition, pets often have extremely high loyalty to their owners, making them feel that they have a reliable "guardian" by their side, thus gaining a sense of psychological security.
"Antidote for Emotions." Scientific research shows that petting and playing with pets can release stress and relieve anxiety.
Pets often exhibit adorable and amusing behaviors, their every move bringing a smile to people's faces, like a spice in life, bringing joy and surprise. On short video platforms, the cuteness of adorable pets always attracts a lot of attention.
Pet ownership has become a "remedy" for many young people seeking emotional healing. When they feel tired, anxious, or depressed, the warmth and closeness of a pet can quickly alleviate negative emotions. Focusing on caring for and spending time with their pets also helps them shift their attention away from stress. Recently, three "dog doctors" were certified and began providing animal-assisted therapy to patients at the West China Hospital Mental Health Center, and their services have been well-received.
Recently certified "dog doctors" are interacting with patients.
"Social bridge." Pets are seen as excellent social media users, expanding their "circle of friends" and allowing pet owners to experience the joy of interpersonal interaction.
For example, when walking their dogs, pet owners often share pet-raising experiences and pet anecdotes, which can help them meet like-minded friends, expand their social circles, and enhance friendly relationships between neighbors or strangers.
On social media platforms, videos and photos of pets often receive a lot of attention, satisfying pet owners' psychological needs for self-expression and emotional identification, and even allowing them to experience the sense of accomplishment of being an "internet celebrity".
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Pets are like "honey" to some people, but to others they are "dispensable" or even "something to be avoided at all costs".
Fear makes it impossible to "truly love" animals. Individual differences exist among people; some enjoy being close to animals, while others are indifferent to them, or even afraid of their "furry" appearance.
This fear has physiological reasons. For example, people who are allergic to cat or dog hair may feel aversion to small animals due to physiological discomfort; others may have overly sensitive senses and low tolerance for the smells and sounds of small animals.
There are also psychological factors, such as "psychological trauma." According to the theory of classical conditioning, if a person has had negative experiences related to pets, such as being chased and bitten by a dog as a child, they will experience a fear response whenever they see a dog, even if it does not exhibit aggressive behavior.
It could be due to personality traits. For example, lively and active animals can make some introverted and cautious people feel uneasy, worrying about potential hygiene and safety risks.
It could also be due to "cognitive rigidity." For example, the frequent occurrence of cat and dog attacks, often "exposed" in the news, has led people to psychologically amplify the perceived danger of pets.
Puzzled, "What's the point of keeping it?" Everyone has different values, life experiences, and beliefs, so their views on pets vary greatly.
Those who adhere to pragmatic values believe that pet ownership does not bring any real benefits and instead requires a lot of money and time, making it an impractical activity. They argue that "it would be more valuable to use the energy and emotions invested in pets to improve oneself and care for family members."
People without pet ownership experience also find it difficult to understand the joy and meaning of pet ownership. As one netizen said, "People who have never owned a dog can hardly imagine what it's like to live with a dog, and people who have owned dogs can't imagine how they would live without one."
Dislike, "It's bothering me." Territoriality is an instinctive psychological mechanism in humans. Some people feel uncomfortable when sharing public areas such as community squares, shopping mall restaurants, etc., with their pets, feeling as if their space is being invaded. This feeling is even stronger if the pets run and play freely.
In addition, sudden barking, unexpected collisions, and "landmines" laid at any time and place... these disturbances also make people "unable to love" their pets.
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In recent years, conflicts between humans and pets have occurred frequently, generating a constant stream of negative news. On the one hand, with the increase in the number of pets and their expanding range of activities, the spatial overlap between humans and pets is increasing, objectively increasing the possibility of friction. On the other hand, the internet acts as an amplifier of emotions, its prism effect amplifying conflicts and exacerbating antagonism between groups. Improperly handled human-pet relationships not only cause distress in people's lives and mental well-being but also pose a threat to social harmony and stability.
"Pampering is a responsibility." In densely populated cities, pet ownership is never a private matter, but a public matter concerning urban civilization and social harmony.
Owning a pet is a personal choice, which is perfectly acceptable, but it must not cause any harm to the public environment, social order, or the legitimate rights and interests of others, and must not cross any legal boundaries. Nor should one use the guise of "pet love" to engage in moral blackmail or impose personal preferences and choices on others.
Owning a pet means loving it, and love implies responsibility. Once you choose to bring them into your home, you must act as their "guardian." You cannot indulge their bad habits without principles, causing trouble or even harm to others. Nor can you abandon them when you encounter difficulties or when the novelty wears off, leaving them to "wander" and fend for themselves.
"If you don't love them, please don't hurt them." Animals are friends of humans. Although they cannot express their thoughts and feelings with words like humans, they can perceive their surroundings in their own way, have emotional needs and experience pain, and may even be emotional bonds for some people.
Non-pet owners should try to view the pet ownership behavior of others with respect and tolerance. When interacting with pets, it's advisable to adopt a "respectful distance" strategy to avoid unnecessary trouble and potential risks, ensuring that each other's lives do not interfere with each other. Even if you don't like or understand them, please refrain from harming them; after all, they are living beings.
"A two-way friendly relationship requires rules to come first." Airlines have launched "pets in the cabin" services, airports have set up "pet waiting lounges," and many cities are creating pet-friendly shopping malls and pet-themed parks... Nowadays, "pet-friendly" spaces are springing up everywhere. However, this should be a two-way effort, protecting the rights of pets while also understanding and eliminating the concerns of non-pet owners as much as possible, and alleviating the challenges to urban governance caused by the increase in the number of pets.
This requires the joint efforts of the entire society. Relevant departments should further streamline corresponding laws, regulations, management rules, and penalty measures, and refine the policy standards for "pet-friendly." Businesses cannot treat "pet-friendly" as a traffic-generating tool or a way to capitalize on a trend. Only by making the rules clearer and the management more refined can we truly achieve "mutual friendliness between humans and pets."
Whether or not to keep a pet, and whether or not to love pets, is a personal choice and should be respected. By adhering to legal and moral boundaries, practicing empathy, and understanding each other, conflicts can dissolve, and our lives will be filled with more warmth and kindness.
