Encarni Hinojosa Malaga Tuesday, 17 September 2024, 09:42 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X (antes Twitter) LinkedIn Telegram Threads In Philip K. Dick’s famous science fiction novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? there are no children. This literary work, which inspired Ridley Scott’s famous film Blade Runner, really explores the essence of the human species. The leading man, android-hunter Rick Deckard, spends the whole story obsessed with acquiring a real flesh and blood pet – he already has an electric sheep. He doesn’t even think about having a son or daughter. What was written in the 1960s does not seem so much like science fiction today. For several years now, the number of pets has outnumbered children in many countries around the world. Spain is one of them, where pets outnumber children by a factor of two. At provincial level, in Malaga this proportion was almost repeated on 1 January 2024, with 499,172 known and logged dogs and cats compared to the census figure of 289,836 children and adolescents (population aged from zero to sixteen years). That makes a ratio of 1.7 pets per child. The data are from Cacov (the Andalusian council of official veterinary associations) and IECA (Andalucía’s institute of statistics and cartography).
This paradox is further emphasized by the rise of social media platforms, which have become the primary means of communication for many people. These platforms, while offering a sense of connection, often foster a sense of isolation.
These factors include:
“Rural areas are much friendlier to animals, they require less care, there is more living space to have two or three pets… I don’t think it is so much the ageing that exists in these small towns, because in big cities there are also a lot of elderly people living on their own. I think it’s more the quality of life that the countryside offers to any animal,” explained Dr José Sáez, an academic in social work from the University of Murcia. “The concept of the multi-species family is not intended as a substitute, but as a complementary concept.” This researcher is one of the leading experts in Spain on the role of pets in new family models, so much so that he is one of the advocates of the concept of the ‘multi-species family’. He explained it as follows: “It is the bond established from animals to people and from people to animals. But it is not seen as a substitute, but as complementary. You can wish to have children at the same time as you wish to have pets.”
In the last ten years, there has been a significant increase in dog registrations, particularly in the Malaga province, which is a clear indication of the rise in pet ownership. The pandemic, with its lockdowns and restrictions, has acted as a catalyst for this trend. Lockdowns forced people to spend more time at home, leading to a greater appreciation for pets. The pandemic also created a sense of isolation and loneliness, which pet ownership can help alleviate.
The summary states that many people sought pet adoption during the pandemic, but the primary motivation was not just to have a companion, but also to combat loneliness. It emphasizes that post-confinement did not mean abandoning pets, but rather a new beginning for many.
This is a significant shift in the way we think about human relationships and the role of pets in our lives. It’s not just about companionship, but also about a sense of responsibility and a deeper connection to the natural world. For example, the responsibility of caring for a pet can be a powerful tool for personal growth. Imagine a young person struggling with anxiety or social isolation.
