Category: Lifestyle
Title: Pet Gazette
Owners of domestic animals are increasingly seeing their pets as part of the family unit, it has been claimed.
According to Pet Gazette advertisement manager Julie-Ann Kwok, felines, canines and other critters have seen their social status elevated.
"It's really about lifestyle now," she said.
"Everyone is fashioning their dog to who they are. They are becoming not just family pets but family members."
Pet and Aquatics Trade Show press officer Angela Noon agreed, noting that the shifting trend presents a unique opportunity for businesses in the industry.
She explained that the importance of pets in the family means that firms can sell a range of new items, such as supplements, premium foods and treats.
Ms Noon described the shift in the way people feel about their pets as "humanisation".
Meanwhile, a recent survey by AP-Petside.com showed that a third of female dog owners feel that their canine is a better listener than their partner.
Posted by Arabella Gibson
Do you see your pet as a family member?