Find out why more and more people prefer to have pets instead of children When we plan to have a child, we must consider the costs related to food, hygiene, leisure, health, education, among many others. And with pets it is no different, they also require medical care, they need a balanced diet, […]
Find out why more and more people prefer having pets over children
When we plan to have a child, we must put on the tip of our pencil the costs of food, hygiene, leisure, health, education, among many others. And it’s no different with pets, they also require medical care, need a balanced diet, cuddles, toys and there are even those who even attend animal daycare. Whether you have human or four-legged children, you need to have financial planning, because one thing is for sure: the expenses will come.
Dogs and cats are favorites
It’s not really an exchange, but more and more Brazilians prefer to have pets instead of children. According to the Radar Pet survey, conducted by the National Union of Animal Health Products Industry (Sindan), more than 37 million households have a pet, the majority of which are dogs or cats. There are more than 54 million dogs and almost 30 million cats, of the most diverse breeds. In other words, approximately 84 million companion animals live in Brazilian territory. Brazil is second only to the United States, which has more than 135 million.
As for children, according to the IBGE, the fertility rate in Brazil has fallen from 6.16 births per woman in 1960 to 1.74 in 2020, remaining below the population replacement level, which is 2. 12. At the same time, the number of pets in the country grew by 65% between 2009 and 2019, according to the Instituto Pet Brasil.
Is the trend really cheap?
Economist Ricardo Júlio, capital markets leader at Crowe Macro Auditores e Consultores, says that, unlike children, pets will never attend schools or universities. «When it comes to training, the expense weighs more heavily on parents of children. Nonetheless, there are still couples who are parents of animals and children. The choice may perhaps be a question of temporal priorities, where at that moment in life the couple is ‘building their own nest egg’ and it is more practical to have a pet and postpone procreation until a moment of greater maturity, both personal and financial. “, explains.
However, Júlio says that pet expenses can also be very high. “Depending on what the owner chooses to provide for the animal and the needs it may have, the annual costs reach up to eight thousand reais. If we evaluate that a child needs to eat, dress, study, have access to healthcare and at leisure, expenses will certainly be tripled when it comes to pets,” he analyzes.
Pet mom for love
Entrepreneur Priscila Queiroz had animals instead of children by choice. “I have only had dogs in my whole life and those that I unfortunately lost, like my last dog, Lupita, were due to old age. I spend money on them without paying too much attention to the value, I even joke with friends who tell me” I would rather buy more shampoo. I worry more about my animals than myself. I have an unusual love relationship with them,” he says.
Priscila believes that it is not just the economic factor that pushes people to prefer animals to their children. “I really believe that it is a choice linked to the person’s desire not to want to have children or not to be able to have them. It is not purely and simply economic, but rather a question of affection towards the animal. Children are forever, unfortunately animals no,” he regrets.
Free from alienation, the relationship with pets is positive
For psychologist Igor Téuri of the Newton Paiva Psychopedagogical Support Centre, there is nothing wrong with having animals and treating them well, as long as this does not become a form of alienation, isolation, substitution, denial or escape from reality. “Pets make great companions, but they cannot be the only ones. People also need to cultivate human bonds, which are essential for everyone’s well-being, growth, fulfillment and happiness,” she says.
According to the expert, having an animal can be a very positive and enriching experience, as long as there is ethical and emotional care. “Furthermore, it is important that people do not use their pets as a subterfuge to escape socializing with other people. We are social beings, and it is human relationships that can offer other forms of love, support, learning, growth
etc. It is very important to have a support network, which can be made up of family, friends, colleagues and professionals,” he emphasizes.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
