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You think you’re doing your pet a favour? Think again
When you treat your pets like human beings and take them for runs while you cycle or offer them ice cream treats, you could be doing them more harm than good.
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In our quest to include our beloved pets in our lives, there are times when our eagerness to share experiences might land them in uncomfortable situations, says the writer.
PHOTO: AFP
Aarthi Sankar
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Our pets hold a treasured place in our lives, as they become our confidantes, our closest friends, and often our emotional anchors. In many ways, we treat them as members of our family, akin to a newborn welcomed into our homes. It is common to hear pet owners lovingly dub their pets as “fur-kids” or regard themselves as proud “pawrents”.
But sometimes we can harm them by treating them as humans. Anthropomorphism is the practice of attributing human emotional and behavioural traits to non-human beings and objects. And certain anthropomorphic actions, influenced by passing trends, might inadvertently impact an animal’s well-being, both physically and emotionally.
