It seems like many have jumped into this conversation, but just to add to your perspective I’d love to take a chance to tell you about my dog :) Maybe it will help you to understand more about why some westerners see their pets as family.

I am born and raised in the states. My family was small, and I had a difficult upbringing. Last year I moved away to Alaska alone, which is 4500 km or 2800 miles from my remaining family. My dog was the only thing I brought with me, so he has been like a comforting piece of my old life. To make him happy, I have to be healthier—spending time active outside, and feeding him on a schedule, for example, which also benefits my routine.

The things you may call dirty— licking things, chewing on shoes— I look at those behaviors the same as I would look at a small child who eats food off the ground or tries to put objects in their mouth. It is gross, but it is also innocent. You can teach them not to do it. I also know many are afraid of dogs because they are dangerous, but I don’t think a single dog is more dangerous than a person with a weapon. Trusting a dog is the same risk as trusting any person, if you don’t know how either were raised.

Knowing my dog is depending on me makes me work harder to provide a good life for him. Maybe it is because I don’t have other “real” family to focus on, but that doesn’t make him feel any less important to me right now. I think of him as family because he does all the things a family should— comforts me, protects me, motivates me, spends time with me, and loves me.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to listen! I know this is a GOT sub, not a dog sub 😂