One in three people want paid leave for pet care or bereavement, according to a survey. The study also reveals challenges concerning animal welfare amid rising pet ownership.
Since 2020, the number of pet ownerships (number of pets owned by new owners within one year) has increased compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019.
In a survey by Suncelmo, which handles funeral and wedding services,https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000001.000092150.htmlregarding the question, "What kind of pet welfare benefits would you like to have?", approximately 30% responded, "Paid leave for pet care or bereavement," making it the top answer. Following that, "Ability to leave work early if a pet becomes suddenly ill" was chosen as the second most desired benefit. These responses indicate a growing number of voices seeking human-like treatment for pets, viewing them as family members, and suggesting an elevated status for pets within households.
Furthermore, a survey on pet funerals also revealed a trend of viewing pets as family and seeking funerals similar to those for humans.
When asked about the budget for pet funerals, approximately 30% of respondents, equivalent to one in three people, stated they would not hesitate to spend "100,000 yen or more." Regarding the desired type of funeral, 45.6% chose "cremation for my pet alone." For desired services, 18.9% selected "inclusion of burial items," ranking first.
This shows that many owners wish to include beloved items as burial goods, similar to human funerals, not just to cremate the pet.
In response to this growing demand for pet funerals, Suncelmo Co., Ltd. launched "sorae" in 2022, the first service in the industry to enable funerals comparable to those for humans. This service is expected to resonate with owners' sentiments of wanting to give their beloved pets a final act of gratitude and see them off without regret.
The same survey also included an investigation into "rescued animals," drawing attention to the animals that pass away unnoticed behind the expanding pet ownership.
The survey results revealed the low social recognition of rescued animals. In proportion to this low recognition, the most common reason given for "not adopting a rescued animal" was "lack of opportunity to interact with rescued animals," with 30.7% of respondents selecting this option.
The Ministry of the Environment's Office of Animal Welfare and Management aims to create a system to expand the adoption of rescued animals in response to the growing demand for pets. The results highlight the urgent need for measures to garner public interest in rescued animals.
With the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, pet demand is expected to continue increasing. It is crucial that we re-evaluate the value of life so that all animals can be cherished equally and coexist harmoniously in a brighter society.
Suncelmo Public Relations Office
Tel.03-6427-1627