Pets in family dynamics: from mere objects to effective members

Abstract

This article deals with the theme of the role played by pets in families and their effects on the formatting of family arrangements, especially multispecies. The objective is to investigate the origins of the human-animal bond, from the factors that led to its formation and those related to the transformation of animals into pets, as well as researching the impact of this relationship on the formatting of family arrangements. This article is part of the dissertation entitled “The interfaces of the relationship between human beings and pets from the perspective of human development”, presented to the Postgraduate Program in Local Development at the Universidade Católica Dom Bosco. It is a research with a qualitative approach, which employs the inductive method, and, as for the objectives, it is characterized as an exploratory research through bibliographical and documental review. The research allows us to conclude that the reality of families formed by human and non-human members, despite the novelty it represents, can no longer be denied, in view of the greater values ​​that unite these beings, in a relationship of mutualism.