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🇧🇪 Belgium /Culture & Society

Crazy about a cat, obsessed with a dog? Animal mediation is gaining ground, even after Câline or Médor die

From La Libre Belgique · () French

Translated from French and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Pet owners increasingly treat dogs, cats and other animals as family members, affecting childcare, travel and housing decisions.
  • Interest is growing in animal communication and mediation, including services that claim to help people communicate with living or deceased pets.
  • Véronique Servais of the University of Liège says the practice is relatively new and expanding rapidly, while some users fear expensive scams or disappointment.

For some pet owners, finding a place to live now starts with finding a place for the animal too. Manuella, 42, says in a housing advertisement that she is looking for a one-year renewable lease with her cat, a budget of up to 575 euros excluding charges, and outdoor access or a nearby green space.

She also offers a second possibility: a pet-friendly shared home where her cat could move around safely. Her maximum budget for that option is 600 euros including all charges. The examples show how dogs, cats, hamsters and other companion animals have come to occupy a place in everyday family decisions.

The attachment can also shape short trips and work travel. One couple posted on Facebook looking for someone trustworthy to care for their two cats while they took a two-day, one-night break. Alice, 28, sought a dog-sitter because she could not take her six-year-old Labrador on a business trip. She described the dog as “adorable, clean and very calm” and said, “This ball of fur is like my child, so I’m really looking for someone trustworthy who will take great care of him.”

This ball of fur is like my child, so I’m really looking for someone trustworthy who will take great care of him.

· AliceAlice explained why she was seeking a trusted dog-sitter for her Labrador.

For some people, the relationship extends to attempts to communicate with animals, or even to remain in contact after a pet dies. Florence wrote that she wanted to reach someone after her dog’s death, but feared being deceived. She also wanted to try animal communication with her puppy because she did not understand some of its behavior.

People presenting themselves online as specialists in animal mediation or intuitive communication are offering services that can be expensive. Véronique Servais, a psychologist and anthropologist at the University of Liège, says the use of such practices is relatively new and rapidly expanding. Studies of communication between species are also under way at the university.

I would like to contact someone following the death of my dog, but I am afraid of being disappointed if it is a scam.

· FlorenceFlorence described her concerns about services claiming to communicate with animals.
About this summary

Originally published by La Libre Belgique in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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