Picture of Jim Scott | Co-Founder
Jim Scott | Co-Founder
Read Full Bio

ON THIS PAGE

share

Power of Pets

The Humanization of Pets

As someone deeply immersed in the world of pets, I can’t help but notice a growing trend: pets are no longer just animals, they're becoming prominent members of our society. Whether it’s the sheer volume of pet apparel, toys, or even the way we talk about our furry companions, the humanization of pets is clear. Today we’ll investigate this trend, its manifestations, and how it could impact the well-being of pets moving forward.  

What is Humanization of Pets?

Before we attempt to determine when the “Humanization of Pets” began, let’s first settle on a definition of the phrase. Using logical reasoning, one would infer that the term means seeing pets as people which is exactly how Dr. Jess Kirk DVM of Vet Explains Pets defines it: “A growing trend that sees pets being treated more like members of the family rather than just animals.” Dr. Kirk finds that this trend has several implications, including…

  1. A Burgeoning Pet Economy

The humanization of pets has led to all types of new goods and services that pet parents can peruse to pamper their best friend. Whether it’s nutritional, recreation, or fashion, if the market exists for us humans—then products geared towards pets are soon to follow. For a quick snapshot of the pet industry, let’s view some stats from the World Animal Foundation on pet spending: For 2023 the total domestic spending was $147B while globally it reached $246B!

  1. More Pet-Friendly Spaces

With the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, those living with a disability gained access to establishments open to the public with a service animal, and it became much more common to see service dogs out in the community. Nowadays, we see an explosion of pet-friendly places allowing not just service animals, but pets of all kinds. Always check before going to an unfamiliar place with your pet for specific rules or guidelines.

  1. Health & Wellness Trends

As awareness of pet health grows, the well-being of our four-legged family has become an increasing priority for many pet owners. Improved nutrition and preventative care are encouraging trends, but rising obesity rates and uncertainty about where to invest in pet health still remain a concern.

  1. Social Media Presence

Thanks to the explosion of social media, content creators have increasing influence in culture. This trend also impacts the world of pets, with more and more animals becoming influencers themselves. See Hepper’s “Top 15 Pet Influencers on Social Media” to meet some of these stars, including Jiffpom, an adorable Pomeranian with over 30 million SM followers!

Concerns

While on the surface it may seem that seeing pets more as family members than animals is a great thing, some troubling patterns have emerged:

Finding a balance - Like humans, or maybe because of us, pets must balance each aspect of wellness (social, recreation, activity, nutrition, and healthcare) to live their best lives. An over focus on any one aspect can throw the balance off and create adverse effects. For example, a treat on every ride through the drive thru can contribute to obesity, or overspending on pampering your pet with nonessentials can cause financial problems.  

Take Aways

To hold pets in the same regard as members of our families— ones deserving of love, quality care, safety, and security—seems a wonderful trend of the 21st century. While it's important to be mindful of the implications that the humanization of pets may bring, this trend ultimately opens the door to more compassionate, enriched lives for both pets and the people who cherish them.

We hope all pet lovers will join RAWZ in providing the best lives possible for our animal companions. Locate your nearest RAWZ retail partner where you will find minimally processed nutrition options that help not only your pet, but also improve the lives of those living with disability thanks to our amazing RAWZ Fund team!   

Picture of Jim Scott | Co-Founder
Jim Scott | Co-Founder

A third-generation RAWZ family member, Jim spreads the word of optimal pet nutrition through in-store product demos and regular articles for the RAWZ blog. After sustaining a traumatic brain injury in 2006, Jim began participating in the writing program at the Krempels Center in Portsmouth, NH. Writing was a way to process and heal from his injury — but Jim realized he could also use this skill to spread awareness of the RAWZ brand and mission. Jim covers a range of pet health issues for the company blog, as well as more personal stories that connect to the causes RAWZ supports. His favorite thing to write about? People’s strong bonds with their pets.

Outside of his RAWZ duties, Jim is an avid golfer, a traveling speaker for the Krempels Center and an injury prevention awareness advocate. In 2013 Jim published his memoir, “More Than a Speed Bump” documenting his personal experience with traumatic brain injury and his journey to recovery. He’s also a proud pet parent to his black lab Clooney, who he credits with keeping him active.