The mournful eyes, the lingering stares, the sad sighs. Many pet parents leave the house each day with a dog or cat watching somberly from the window.
Social scientists have found that pet owners experience ongoing guilt about wanting to do better for their animals. Researchers have called it an understudied topic that needs to be better considered, particularly as more workers are called back into the office full-time.
Psychologist Lori Kogan felt guilty about leaving her dogs alone during her long work days. She knew they looked forward to their walks, but frigid weather made her cut their outings short, which made her feel even more guilty.
“I felt guilty going out on the weekends or the evening, and the guilt was killing me,” says Kogan, a professor of clinical sciences at Colorado State University.
Kogan’s distress prompted a series of studies examining whether other dog owners felt guilt. ...
