Pet ownership trends show animals increasingly viewed as family members

In Faa’a, the Saint-Joseph parish held a blessing for dogs and rabbits on October 4 to honor Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. Many owners attended the event, viewing their pets as integral family members. The association Stop Cruauté Animale Tahiti (SCAT) also participated to raise awareness for animal protection and collect funds for animal care.

This cultural shift toward viewing pets as family is reflected in recent data from France. A study conducted by Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Toluna-Harris Interactive indicates that 82% of dog and cat owners consider their pets to be family members or even their own children. The study highlights a trend of ‘pet parentality,’ where 81% of owners use human parental language when addressing their animals, leading to increased attention toward animal well-being.