Loving Paws - September 17, 2006 Ottawa Sun

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Sept 17, 2006

Ottawa Sun - September 17, 2006

A DOG'S LIFE: MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE
GOING FROM OWNER TO 'PET PARENT'
(Anne Howland, Ottawa Sun)

ACUPRESSURE: Amy Shannon Leclair of Loving Paws & House Sitting performs acupressure on Suky, a 12-year-old Lhasa Apso mix. Leclair says people are taking pet ownership more seriously today.
(Blair Gable, Sun Media)

Dogs, dogs and more dogs! They're our friends, colleagues, sometimes even our "children." The role of canines in our society has certainly grown in recent years, and that can bring both challenges and rewards. This week, the Sun takes a look at the life of the modern Rover, from becoming part of the family, to working and playing with us, to the final goodbye. We hope you'll paws a while and enjoy our five-part series.

REUBEN AND FIFI are getting married.

Their outfits will be custom-made, the location is already chosen and the guest list almost finalized.

The happy pair has been engaged since Christmas, when Reuben gave Fifi a pink bathrobe and rhinestone engagement bone.

That's right, Reuben and Fifi aren't your average couple -- they're Yorkshire terriers that, according to their owners, share a special canine connection.

"She took to him and he took to her," says Jacqui Sjonger, who operates Creature Comforts, a dog day-care and grooming facility in Ottawa. Sjonger counts Reuben among her household pets, while Fifi belongs to a client.

"They're just like an old married couple," says Sjonger. "They have disputes and then they snuggle."

LOVING PAWS & HOUSE SITTING walker Clare Ross totes her eight-month-old son Owen while walking a client's dogs: Henry, a three-year-old shitzu and Bruiser, a 10-year-old Wheaton terrier.
(Blair Gable, Sun Media)

The idea of doggie nuptials started as a joke, she adds, but soon escalated until the country ceremony began to take shape. The wedding party and about 50 guests will all be canine, a hired (human) actress is to appear as justice of the peace, and a reception will offer doggie delicacies.

"I think it's cute, it's sweet, it's a great idea," says Sjonger, adding the Yorkies will enjoy a honeymoon at the cottage, then have a "separate-house marriage," seeing each other on holidays and special events.

Treating pets like members of the family is becoming increasingly common, as "owners" become "pet parents."

Sjonger says she sees no harm in viewing animals like human beings. "He's my little man," she says of Reuben.

According to the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association, more than half of Canadian households own pets of some kind, and each year spend about $3 billion on them, exceeding spending on children's toys, footwear, eye care and dental plans.

A recent OVMA survey of pet owners revealed that nearly 80% gave holiday or birthday presents to their pets, while more than 60% signed their pets' names on cards or letters. A slight majority gave their pets human names.

PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS

While almost all owners talk to their pets, 94% spoke to their pets as though they were human. One-third of respondents spoke to their pets on the telephone or via the answering machine. More than 90% of pet owners believed their pets are aware of their moods and emotions.

In fact, studies show companion animals provide psychological benefits to their humans as sympathetic, supportive and non-judgmental listeners.

Medical studies on the human-animal bond reveal pet owners are more likely to have reduced stress, cholesterol levels and blood pressure. They also experience fewer heart attacks than people without pets, the OVMA says.

Carolyn Clark, founder of the Centre for Applied Canine Behaviour in Kanata, says much has changed regarding pet ownership in the past 10 to 20 years. Empty-nesters and couples deciding to put off or not have children mean pets are becoming "part of the family," she says.

And while the concept of pet parenting is valid, it can also "raise some hackles," she says.

"It's as much work as raising a toddler," Clark says. Managing a young dog until it learns appropriate behaviour, "puppy proofing" the house and disciplining in a non-physical way are all parallels to raising a child, she adds. However, expecting human reactions and emotions from a dog is unrealistic, she says.

"It's unfair to the dog. They're wonderful beings, and have their own culture," Clark says, adding such expectations can stress the dog and cause it to suffer illness or allergies or show aggression.

Another unrealistic expectation is for the dog to be comfortable left alone all day in the house, she says.

"One of the biggest differences in the past 30 years is that nobody is home all day," Clark says. "The dog shouldn't be the greeter for the kids."

Which is where services such as dog daycares and pet sitting come in. Lara Willis is the founder of the All Canadian Pet Services Network, a professional organization for pet Sitters and dog walkers based in Toronto.

She says the trend toward "pet parenting" means people concerned about leaving their pets alone are hiring Sitters and walkers, especially in larger urban centres.

"I've personally noticed a trend in the past five or six years," Willis says.

Amy Shannon Leclair started Loving Paws & House Sitting in Ottawa several months ago. She's busy serving a variety of clients, from celebrities with many pets and little time, to seniors, low-income families and apartment dwellers.

"People are taking (pet) ownership more seriously," she says. "Pets are seen as family, not as just another mouth to feed."

SERVE AS RED FLAG

The way pets are treated in a household can also serve as a red flag for situations of domestic violence and abuse.

According to the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies, while the animal welfare movement has long recognized that children who are cruel to animals will grow up being insensitive to people, the body of research linking animal abuse, child abuse and domestic violence is growing.

In 1998, the Ontario SPCA conducted a women's shelter survey that showed 61% had pets harmed or killed by an abusive partner. Also, 48% said they delayed leaving an abusive situation for fear of leaving helpless pets behind.

Studies have also shown a strong connection between elder abuse and animal cruelty. Animals can be used as a manipulation tool against dependent seniors.

Pets can also bear the brunt of changes in the lives of their human families. While people often acquire a pet at a positive period in their life, things likely change over the life of that animal, says Sharon Miko, outreach manager at the Ottawa Humane Society.

"In a 20-year period, most people will go through a significant life change," says Miko, such as moving, starting or ending a relationship, retiring or downsizing. "It's not the same lifestyle pattern as it was 50 years ago, so there are more periods when they can't accommodate pets."

Miko says it's critical to consider the needs of pets in planning any changes, such as moving.

Becoming informed about combining pets and children is also important because there are many myths, Miko says.

Sometimes it's just no longer possible to keep an animal through a life transition, and people shouldn't feel bad about taking it to a shelter.

"There comes a time when keeping an animal is no longer the responsible thing," she says.

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GONE TO THE DOGS

- 33% of men said the No. 1 canine quality they wished their women had is "always being in a good mood."

- 66% of dog owners said they wouldn't even consider dating someone who didn't like their dog.

- 18% of dog owners said they either have included (or would include) their dog in their wedding ceremony.

- 60% of dog owners said if they split up with their significant other, they'd definitely get the dog.

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Last updated: April 25, 2009.