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From Victorian Pets to Modern Dilemmas:The Cost of Caring for Pets
Ever since domestic companion animals first became popular in the Western world, people’s ability to provide for their healthcare needs has been closely linked to their own economic situation.
A Pet Revolution: The Emergence of Pet Keeping
In both the English speaking world and elsewhere, people have cherished their pets for centuries. However, it was in the 19th century that larger numbers of people in countries such as the UK and the USA had the financial resources to keep pets, thanks to economic development and urbanization. Victorian culture celebrated the advent of the companion animal, and artists on both sides of the Atlantic, such as Briton Riviere and Maud Alice Earl in the UK and George Catlin and Edward Hicks in the USA, painted pets as cherished members of the family. This cultural shift led to a boom in the pet market, from pet portraits to pet healthcare.
Pet Healthcare in the 19th Century
During the 19th century, with veterinarians primarily focused on horses and farm animals, pet owners were encouraged to take pet healthcare into their own hands. There was a surge in…
