Times are changing, and so are the trends: from animals you keep at home for fun, pets have become real family members. They are no longer left at home, and very few people choose to keep them on a chain. Instead, pets have their own rights and freedoms, and for a great number of people they have become fur-children and true friends. Pet owners have started paying much more attention to their furry companions, and this has led to changes in trends altogether. The great idea behind these trends is that pets should be loved and cherished, and they deserve the best.
Years ago it was virtually impossible to go on a vacation with your pet. Luckily, times have changed, and people choose to travel with their four-legged companions more and more.
It doesn't matter if you're going on a vacation or have to move because of your job, today it's easier than ever to take your pet with you. This is the reason why so many hotels, motels and hostels are now pet-friendly, and you can even get pet health insurance for them. Websites such as Takeyourpet.com are a great source of information for those who are travelling with their pets, and there are many apps that can point you to the nearest pet-friendly hotel, cafe or restaurant.
No matter how much you would like to, sometimes, you just can't travel with your pet. The reasons behind this may differ: either your hotel isn't pet-friendly or your pet doesn't like to travel, or they're just too sick or too old for a road trip; but the bottom line is that you have to leave them at home while you're gone. This is where pet sitters come to the rescue - people willing to keep an eye on your pet when you're gone, who are going to feed and walk them, or simply keep them company when they get lonely. Pet sitting is a growing industry and it makes life easier to both pets and pet owners.
The generation of millennials, in particular, is focusing on their pets much more than other generations. Since they are working long hours and are putting off getting married and having children, their four-legged friends are making them happy. Pets are regarded as family, but for millennials, having a pet is a great exercise for adult responsibilities that lie ahead. Working long hours, struggling to start a career and get a steady job, and paying off student loans makes it incredibly difficult to start a family, but having a pet makes it all bearable, and it makes people feel like they have a small family already.
Just as people started paying more attention to the environment and focusing on recycling and buying organic products, pet owners started doing the same when their pets are concerned. By using natural products, they are avoiding toxic chemicals and other harmful materials. Aside from leashes and pet clothes made of natural fibres, there are also natural tick and flea repellents, as well as balanced natural pet food. Overweight pets are prone to sickness and it can happen that they have behavioural problems too. However, if you're feeding them natural and organic pet food, they are less likely to become overweight.
Pets become family, they are seen as children, brothers and sisters, and beloved friends, and people don't find it difficult to ensure that their pets get only the best. Just as one would go through a bit of trouble to ensure that they're getting the best service, food and products for themselves, they are doing the same for their furry companions.
Zara Lewis is a regular contributor at Highstylife.com and a full time animal lover. Passionate about creating a better world for the generations to come, she is a mum of two, raising them inseparably from their furry family members.