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It is common for dog owners to consider their beloved pet a part of their human family. In addition to providing the necessary food, water and shelter, pet owners often depend upon animals for companionship and emotional well being. Unfortunately for many pet lovers ,the courts continue to maintain the position that regardless of the owner's emotional attachment, pets are simply personal property. In July, 2012, the Supreme Court of New Jersey was presented with McDougall v. Lamm, wherein a dog owner sought to recover money damages for the emotional distress that stemmed from the observance of her pet dog's violent death. A plaintiff is entitled to damages if he or she observed the traumatic death of a close family member. See Portee v. Jaffee, 84 N.J.88 (1980). The plaintiff in McDougall argued that due to her close relationship with her dog, it should be considered a family member, thus entitling her to damages under Portee. This case study should afford students the ability to (1) articulate the progression of case law pertaining to the recovery of money damages for emotional distress caused by the observation of harm to a loved one (2) understand the possible ramifications of extending the law to pets and (3) determine whether the current law is antiquated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the nature and determinants of dog owners' attitudes toward, treatment of, and interactions with, animals. Based on 28 in-depth interviews with dog owners from a Midwestern county, I demonstrate that pets are an important part of many people's lives, often providing companionship, entertainment, and meaningful interactions; however, there are notable, distinct variations in how people relate to them. I find that pet owners typically exhibit one of three different orientations toward pets: "dominionist," "humanist," and "protectionist." Dominionist pet owners have relatively low regard for their pets, valuing them primarily for the uses they provide, such as protection. Humanists, who elevate their pets to the status of surrogate humans, value their pets primarily for the affective benefits they enjoy from their close emotional attachments. Protectionists have high regard for both pets and animals more generally. They view pets as valuable companions and as creatures with their own interests. I argue that these distinct orientations toward animals are informed by multiple, competing cultural logics as well as personal experiences, demographic characteristics, and family structure. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animals can be classified as wild or tame and as sacred or profane, as in the Durkheimian sense. Where do American urban dwellers of today place dogs in this matrix and how does it determine their identity in urban communities? Changing cultural value-systems play a significant part in community identity, decision-making and policing regarding the use of public space, urban amenities and concomitant resource allocations. Cities need to take account of these cultural value-systems - in addition to socio-economic status or race and ethnicity factors - in order to minimize organizational ineffectiveness, inefficiencies, and unnecessary urban conflict, in addition to best serve the needs of animals and communities. First, this paper seeks to determine the modern human-animal boundary when for the first time in the history of mankind more than 50% of the world's population resides in urban, rather than rural, environments. In the United States, more than 80% of the population was comprised of urban dwellers in 2005. This switch from rural to urban living recasts the location of animal actors in human society. Second, this paper clarifies cultural differences between the dog-ownership practices of select social classes and ethnic groups in urban environments. Finally it begins to identify weaknesses in the city response to these cultural differences that negatively impact the well being of dogs and caregivers in urban communities. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous literature has shown gender differences in human-animal interactions. However, differences in the meaning of dog ownership have not been examined. In this paper, I attempt to discover if there are differences in the meaning of dogs to their owners by interviewing 35 dog owners in a Midwestern city. Findings revealed that dog owners give different meanings to their dogs based on gender and marital status. Marital status differences hinge on gender in this study. Women and single men were more likely to view their dogs as companions and emotional support. Married men were more likely to view their dogs as a form of instrumental support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACTAnimal Meanings: Understanding the Determinants of Dog Owners' Attitudes toward and Treatment of DogsIn this paper, I investigate variations in dog owners' attitudes toward and treatment of dogs. Using quantitative analyses of a community sample of dog owners (N=329), I describe various attitudes and treatments of dogs and explain some of their important determinants. Contrary to previous research, I find no relationship between gender, race, age, area of residence, or income and attitudes. Also contrary to previous research, I find that education is negatively associated with attitudes. Furthermore, upon investigation of the role of animals in the lives of individuals and families, I find that the presence of children is negatively associated with attitudes toward dogs, but marriage is not. I propose that social psychological and cultural theory can help us better understand the changing role and meaning of animals in people's lives. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1999, the Japanese Parliament passed a revised Animal Protection Law (Doubutsu Aigo Kanri Hou). This new law permits criminal prosecution for "cruelty" and "neglect" of animals. Before this law's enactment, prosecution was possible for abuse of other's animals, but not abuse of those in one's possession. Irresponsible dog owners were free to abuse their own pets without legal or civil repercussions. This new law authorizes the arrest and prosecution of willful abuse and neglect regardless of ownership. This paper will examine the law's effectiveness--the reaction of police and other authorities--to a case of outright abuse and negligence which resulted in the death of many dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the nature and determinants of dog and cat owners' treatment of, and relationships with, animals. Based on 28 in-depth interviews with dog owners from a Midwestern county, and surveys of dog (N=307) and cat owners (N=271), I demonstrate that pets are an important part of many people's lives, often providing companionship, entertainment, and meaningful interactions. However, there are notable variations in how people interact with and treat them. Quantitative analyses indicate that the presence of children adversely affects treatment of dogs. The more children are present, the less time owners spend with their dogs and the less often they take them to the vet. On the contrary, city residents and owners with higher incomes take their dogs to the vet more than their counterparts. Most of these effects also apply to cats. In-depth interviews suggest that pet owners' behaviors are guided by variations in priority and definition. For example, both rural residents and parents of young children may be more likely to define their pet, not as a "child," but as "just an animal." Ultimately, although certain animals, such as dogs and cats, may be increasingly cherished as children or companions, relationships remain ambiguous, tenuous, and complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]