Special-Needs Companion Animals and Those Who Care for Them

Publication Title

Society and Animals

ISSN

10631119

E-ISSN

15685306

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Through a series of in-depth interviews asking individuals about their decisions to adopt special-needs companion animals, we discovered that a combination of anthropomorphism and empathy are at play when individuals decide to adopt them. This tendency is explained using David Blouin's typology of guardians: humanistic and protectionistic guardians anthropomorphized their companion animals, exhibited greater empathy, and were more willing to adopt animals with special needs.

First Page

21

Last Page

40

Publication Date

1-1-2020

DOI

10.1163/15685306-12341538

Keywords

Adoption, Anthropomorphism, Companion animals, Special needs, Symbolic interactionism

Department

Department of Sociology

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