In the new Shrek movie, a portly Puss in Boots contently licks cream from a saucer as a mouse wanders in and does the same. Feeling Shrek’s expectant eyes on him, he shrugs, “I’ll get him later.” This shows how the once fierce cat has become uber-domesticated. But Puss could actually have been any pet, says Dr Lohith, a vet, “I think that pets are too pampered now and are overly dependent on humans. It is simply not natural and is actually unhealthy for them,” he adds. His opinion is backed by a recent study which shows how most domesticated animals are now alarmingly dependent on humans and as a result have become slow and fearful outside their domesticated world.
Geetha S, a proud dog owner supports his assessment, “My dog is afraid of so many things, like fire-crackers, for example. On Diwali, it’s hilarious to see her whimper and hide behind my legs. She won’t venture outside and once, she hid under the bed for hours,” she laughs. Dr Lohith continues, “The problem is that animals are so expensive that people protect them as an asset and therefore keep them at home. But they need to socialise with others pets and be active.” Geetha confirms this, “My dog is very snobbish actually, she has figured out that it is humans who give her treats and has no time for other dogs! She is also afraid of loud noises and doesn’t like to be too far away from me! It is kind of sweet, actually.”
Dr Lohith cautions, “The emotional relationship between pet and owner is the main reason why people even have pets but in many cases, this is carried too far, to the detriment of the pet.” Gurudutt, a student, agrees. “My parents treat Rooney better than they treat me! He behaves as if he owns the place. If we don’t feed him on time, he is unmanageable.” Dr Lohith says that this is not uncommon. “We see a lot of cases of pets with behavioural problems because the owners are too indulgent. Pets need discipline to be healthy and retain their essential nature,” he adds.
“My dog is pampered! He sits on my lap while I drive and the window is always down because he likes it that way. He also can’t sleep without his special blanket. It’s funny how quickly he got used to living with humans and also, like a human!” says Abhinandan Roy about his pet.
While Dr Lohith approves of such attachment, he cautions, “It is absolutely ok to love them but treating them like a human is definitely not the way to go.”
“If you want to make sure your pet flourishes, you have to pay attention to it’s needs. Don’t turn it into a matter of personal ego,” he advises.