Pets and their people: a sociological investigation into the pet-keeping practices of two demographically diverse samples of South Africans

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Date

2012

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University of the Western Cape

Abstract

This study provides a sociological analysis of pet-keeping among two different samples of South Africans who display divergent tendencies. The demographic variables that shape attitudes, behaviour and practices towards pets such as age, gender, class, race and ethnicity, along with marital status, religion, area of residence and household type and structure are outlined. In addition, various other factors, such as past experiences with pets (particularly during childhood), emotional connections with other animals and the differential accumulation of ?animal capital� are explored. The objective of this thesis is to assess the ways in which pets are integrated into the lives of the two samples of pet owners. This research also examines diverse attitudes toward some important issues within animal welfare. This thesis shows that pet-keeping cuts across social categories and that a complex interplay of factors influences perceptions of pets and pet-keeping rituals and routines. The growth and increased popularity of pet-keeping in contemporary societies can be linked to broader political, economic and social changes and cultural shifts. In particular, it is argued that postmodern conditions have facilitated the growth of pet-keeping as well as the increased emotional intensity associated therewith. Furthermore, an understanding of the motivations underlying pet-keeping and the different roles they play in people�s lives reveal much about our views about one another as well as the broader dynamics characterising our unequal society. Data were collected through a combination of a quantitative survey and qualitative interview methods. The findings of this study both contradict and confirm those made in previous studies. Data analysis shows that there is a correlation between the style of pet keeping favoured and the gender of the primary pet caretaker. It further demonstrates the impact that the participant�s previous experiences, have on their current preferences for a particular type of pet, as well as their favoured style of pet-keeping

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Philosophiae Doctor - PhD

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