The column reflects on the rising trend of “pet parenting,” highlighting the joy and sometimes peculiar devotion people show towards their pets, especially in public spaces like malls. The author muses about the happiness observed in pet owners compared to those without pets and examines how pets are increasingly seen as family members rather than just animals.
The piece touches on the benefits of pet ownership—less responsibility than raising children, fewer societal pressures, and the unconditional love pets offer. The author acknowledges that for some, the bond with their pets can be as deeply felt as relationships with children, especially given contemporary societal shifts like declining fertility rates and a greater focus on careers.
In closing, the column raises a thought-provoking question on whether pets will indeed replace children in the emotional and familial landscape of society, a sentiment encapsulated humorously and poignantly in the imagery of a Pomeranian in a pram.
