No. 154 / Oct 18, 2021
Pets have always been good friends to humans. Over the years, the number of people living with pets has increased considerably in Korea. The pet industry has also grown in accordance with this phenomenon. According to a survey conducted by the Samsung Economic Research Institute in 2020, the size of the pet market has expanded five-fold since 2012. This led to a shift in the perception of pets, which means that people are accepting pets as family, unlike in past times when they were only kept to guard the house or eat leftovers. According to another survey carried out by Statistics Korea, about 75% of the respondents claimed that pets are considered family, just like humans. There are a few services for pets representing such a change.
Some convenience stores have started selling funeral kits for people to use after their pets pass away. A single kit contains products to clean the body, a guidebook to help the owner go through the process, and a waterproof bag in which the owner can put the body. This indicates that people are taking the death of their pets more seriously than before, and they feel the need to show respect and love for them. In addition, the number of places for animals to socialize and play with other animals, including pet hotels and kindergartens, has increased. In kindergartens for pets, the animals experience a number of fun activities, befriend other animals, and take naps. There are even places where there are experts who analyze the behaviors of pets from a psychological perspective, in order to take better care of them. Therefore, it is known that such institutions are beneficial for pets to relieve stress and have fun in a healthy way. There are many pet salons for haircuts, massages, and aroma therapies. This shows that people have become as interested in having their pets groomed as in grooming themselves. Understandably, more people are seeking jobs as pet stylists and hairdressers than in the past. People can also register pets to protect them. By inserting a small, harmless chip in an animal’s body, people can identify them in cases of kidnapping, abandonment, or if they go missing. These are mostly targeted to dogs and cats. Nevertheless, an increasing number of people have started raising other animals, such as otters, snakes, and hedgehogs. It can be assumed that other institutions providing similar services, but taking into consideration the differences among animals, will emerge shortly. This reflects a change in the perception of pets, where they are now viewed as equivalent beings in human society.
These examples imply that people think of their pets as valuable members of their families and show more effort in caring for their wellbeing. Such love and interest will lead to the establishment of new services and ways of raising pets.
By Park Se-jeong, AG Cub Reporter
summer06@ajou.ac.kr
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