Commentary
Anthropomorphism, giving human characteristics to a non-human entity, has long been a part of the human experience. In this article from Protect the Harvest, the authors discuss consequences from expecting an animal to emulate human traits.
Just as we should not expect a human child to act like a dog, we should not expect a dog to act like a human child, as they are not equivalent to the other.”
Pets have been companions for most of our history, but only recently have we begun replacing human interactions for the imaginary dialog animals have to offer. These things in and of themselves are not bad, but we need to step back and understand why we are projecting these traits on our pets and other animals and the impact.
Source: Protect the Harvest.com. Link.
INSIGHTS: Nothing here precludes the importance of the human-animal bond. However, there is value to understanding the difference between personification and anthropomorphism.
Also see: Personification versus anthropomorphism, Dictionary.com. Link.
Viewing pets as equal members of the family can be problematic if it means you fail to take precautions to protect others, such as infants or disabled adults, from an animal with the ability to cause physical harm.