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Pets Are The New Gateway Drug To Children

Birth rates have been declining every year in the U.S. since 2007. From the rising cost of living to the climate crisis, millennials have been very outspoken on the reasons…

Puppies In Puppy Bowl XVIII

Wagmor Pets

Credit: discovery+/ Animal Planet/ 'The Dogist' Elias Weiss Friedman

Birth rates have been declining every year in the U.S. since 2007. From the rising cost of living to the climate crisis, millennials have been very outspoken on the reasons why they don’t want to have babies — human babies that is.

According to MIC, six in 10 young adults actually believe “pets are the new kids” while, kids are like fancy exotic sports cars that only rich people can afford. Pet parenting proves to either be a bridge or a replacement for human parenting.

Melissa Geraghty is an Illinois-based health psychotherapist says she’s definitely observed a trend in couples practicing their parenting skills on a pet before they decide to dive into human procreation.

“I’ve seen that a lot of couples want to start out with a dog to test out fur baby behaviors and see how they do with a puppy— trying to iron out some strategies before they have a human child,” she says.

However, some couples may realize right then and there that they’re not equipped for parenting. Michelle Harris, a 35-year-old copywriter from Buffalo, New York says adopting her Shih Tzu-Terrier mix has “fulfilled all of her needs to nurture another living being without cramping her desire to live her own life to the fullest.”

Source: MIC

written by
LauRen Merola Strager is a former NFL & NBA cheerleader turned radio host. LauRen is a former Miss Pennsylvania USA and is a proud wife and mother of two. She is the owner and chief editor for her fashion and lifestyle Blog “All Of The F-Words” and is a champion for the Autism community. You can read all about LauRen’s thoughts on motherhood, pageant life, and everyday life through her online content.