Opinion: A ‘pet’ peeve: We spend ridiculous sums on our dogs and cats for everything from Halloween costumes to drinks at the animal ‘bar’

Let me first state for the record that I really like my dog, a 11-year-old cutie named Lulu. She plays a good game of fetch. She forces me to get a little more exercise with her constant need for walks. She has also mastered being house-trained .

It’s all part of a trend to treat our pets like people. One study, from the Nielsen NLSN, -0.45% folks, noted that 95% of American pet owners consider their animals to be family members. . But I don’t need a study to tell me that: I just have to look at all the pet owners I know who are posting more pictures of their dogs on Instagram FB, -2.24% and the like than of their family.

But I think it’s important to distinguish the kind of relationship you have with your dog versus with your family or friends. I spent a fun day some weeks ago with someone I’ve known since college — we went out for Chinese food, caught up on our personal and professional lives and just laughed ourselves silly.

But it’s not just that I see no point to pretending my dog is human. I also don’t think it’s good for our mental health. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we need more person-to-person interaction in our lives, not less. As Martha Tousley, a registered nurse who deals in psychiatric issues, writes: “Wonderful as it is, love for a pet is not a suitable substitute for human companionship.

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