150 boys and 150 girls between the ages of 3 and 13 yr. were individually interviewed using a series of investigator-generated open-ended questions to analyze the children's attitudes toward their pets. It was hypothesized that the cognitive elements would progress from preoperational to concrete operations at seven and to formal operations at 13, that the affective elements would progress from egocentricity to empathy and perspective-taking, and that behavioral elements would progress from dependence on situational cues to caring behavior based on realistically assessed characteristics of pets. Although the data supported the second and third hypotheses, the cognitive elements progressed only from preoperational to concrete operations. There was no evidence that the 13-yr.-olds had entered the formal operations stage. Other data indicated that 90% owned pets but 99.3% wanted pets, a significant indication of children's over-all positive attitude toward pets. Further research was suggested.

Observations in the streets and parks of San Francisco East Bay cities and suburbs suggested that many of the homeless people own and maintain pet animals in spite of circumstances and environmental conditions. Accordingly, 105 homeless adult men and women, half of whom owned pets, were interviewed for this pilot study. Responses indicated that homeless pet-owners were extremely attached to their pets and had owned significantly more pets during childhood and adolescence than nonowners although there were no significant differences in attachment to pets between parents and nonparents or between married and single persons. Providing food and veterinary care for pets, however, was a very significant problem for the majority of the homeless pet-owners. It was clear that many homeless adults did have pets which were important for their mental and physical health and that pet care was associated with unique problems.

Because the literature on factors influencing the average adult's attitudes and attachment to pet animals is extremely limited, this study was designed to investigate whether present pet ownership or nonownership, childhood ownership or nonownership, sex, and family size were significant influences on adults' attitudes and attachment to pets. 900 adults were given either the Wilson Pet Attitude Inventory for Pet Owners or for Nonpet Owners. Statistical analysis of responses indicated that current pet owners were more attached to pets than nonowners, that adults who had owned pets as children or adolescents were more attached than those who never owned or who first owned them as adults, that women were more attached than men, that single subjects were more attached than married subjects, and that childless subjects were more attached than those who were parents.

To investigate possible reasons why millions of cats and dogs are adopted and then rejected each year, 120 male and 223 female adopters from the San Francisco Bay Area shelters completed George's Pet Expectations Inventory, which rates the physical, emotional, and intellectual effects of roles pets are expected to play, and the 50 fathers and 89 mothers rated the roles expected to affect their children's lives. Six-month phone call follow-ups ascertained whether they still had the adopted pet, and if not, why not. Analysis of responses indicated that: (1) subjects who already had or previously had pets retained significantly more newly adopted pets than those who had never had pets. (2) Men rejected a significantly higher percentage of pets than did women, as did significantly more parents than nonparents. (3) Although there were no significant differences in total scores between subjects who retained and those who rejected pets either for themselves or for their children, specific role expectations differed considerably between men and women, parents and nonparents, and retainers and rejecters. Adopters held higher expectations for dogs than for cats. Present results could help shelter workers reduce the number of adopted pets abandoned and euthanized.

Although tank fish are currently the most popular “pets” in the USA, literature reporting studies on the benefits, problems, and characteristics of home aquarium ownership is extremely limited. Because it seemed important to learn more about people who enjoy owning and caring for home aquaria, 50 men and 50 women were interviewed in several area stores which provide and sell living fish and adjunct products necessary for maintaining good home aquarium environments. Major problems reported by home aquarium owners were the expensive equipment, especially the tanks and controls for water temperature, circulation, and chemical balances, the tank maintenance, and tank cleanliness. Major benefits mentioned by such owners were the calming, relaxation, and stress-reduction effects of just watching fish which lessened anxieties and created a sense of serenity. These findings help to explain the current popularity of the live inhabitants of home aquaria.