Abstract:

Pet has become an important part of many familes and pet related consumptions grows steadly in many countries. However, it is surprising that so little academic attention has been directed to this particular field. Pet consumption reflects how people look at animal, self, and others. It reveals not only the relationship between self and animal, but also the relationships among people. Further, it provides a unique perspective for studying family consumption decision making. As such, scholars both in demostic and abroad have begun to recognize the importance and value of studying pet related consumption behaviors. This paper reviews extensively a variety of literatures of pet-related consumption and attempt to present a picuture of research development in this field. The topics we touch upon include the motivation for pet acquisition, pet acquisition decision-making process, pet-related consumption decision-making, self-construction and crowding-out effect etc. We also discuss such topics as how pets are used in marketing, and what outcomes pet brings to consumers’ welfares. Finally, potential academic contributions and future directions for pet consumpetion behavior study are outlined and discussed.

Key words: Pet, Pet-related consumption, Family consumption decision-making, Human-animal bonds