Industrial Revolution and the rise of Pet Culture

Industrial revolution

• transformed human-animal relationships

• urbanization and technological change reshaped animal roles

• rise of pet keeping was a cultural phenomenon

Urbanization

Animal displacement

• cities displaced livestock and working animals

• rise of sanitation laws limited animals in public spaces

• stray animals became a new problem and target of control

Decline of animal power

• machines replaced draft animals in many industries

• animals still used in transport, dairies, and slaughterhouses

• visibility of animal labor declined as industry advanced

Pets

• urban middle-class domesticity fostered emotional bonds with animals

• sentimental culture celebrated compassion and sympathy

• empire and trade brought exotic species

• science and selective breeding created new forms of expertise

Institutions and reform

• RSPCA founded 1824; royal charter 1840

• Battersea Dogs’ home (Mary Tealby, 1860)

• Legislation: cruelty to Animals Act 1835, Dogs Act 1871, Dog Licences Act 1867

• Wild Birds Protection Acts (1872-1880s)

Meaning

• Elite model: Queen Victoria’s affection legitimized pet-keeping

• middle class: moral pedagogy, empathy training

• working class: caged birds and rabbits - affordable and respectable

• pets reflected both emotional life and social status

Commerce and consumption

• Spratt’s patent meat fibrine dog cakes (1860s) pioneered pet food

• collars, leashes, muzzles, and clothing sold in illustrated catalogs

• pet photography and cemeteries extended sentimental care

Breeds and shows

• 1859 Newcastle dog show —> Kennel Club (1873), Crufts (1891)

• 1871 Crystal palace Cat Show by Harrison Weir

• Working-class fancies: pigeons, rabbis, mice

• Early welfare debates about overbreeding and deformity

Dogs

Collies and spaniels - loyalty and respectability

Cats

from mousers to refined pets

Birds

canaries and parrots - empire and domestic joy

Fish

aquarium craze

Medicine and science

• veterinary medicine expands to household pets

• George Romanes, “Animal Intelligence” 1882

• Humane education in schools - kindness as civic virtue

Memory and Mourning

• Hyde Park Pet Cemetery founded 1881

• tombstones praised loyalty and innocence

• pets integrated into family mourning rituals

Capitalism

• shift from utility to companionship

• growth of middle class and disposable income

• cultural sentimentalization of animals

Early petkeeping

19th century

• victorian petkeeping: dogs, birds, cats

• rise of pet shops and breeders

• pets as indicators of moral and social status

Pet food

• 1860: first commercial dog biscuit (Spratt’s, UK)

• canned meat introduced in early 20th century

• Dry kibble by mid-centure

Post WWII pet boom

• suburbanization = more households with pets

• rise of consumer goods for pets

• marketing pets as family members

Pet products

• toys, beds, grooming tools

• designer accessories and clothing

• luxury items and pet spas

Industrial pet food

• mass production and standardization

• brands: Purina, Pedigree, Iams

• wet vs. dry food treats, breed specific diets

Pet insurance

• growth of vet clinics and preventative care

• first policies in 1980s

• shift to wellness and longevity focus

Digital transformation

• Online retailers: Chewy, Amazon

• Subscription food and treat boxes

• pet influencers and social media. marketing

Global market trends

• pet industry worth more than 200 billion dollars globally

• major markets: US, China, Europe

• growing demand in middle-income countries

Ethics and criticisms

• overbreeding and puppy mills

• obesity and diet concerns

• environmental cost of pet ownership

Kennel clubs

• 19th century

• organize dog shows, set breed standards, and keep official pedigree records

Eugenics and breed standardization

Contemporary veterinarians and ethical breeders increasingly critique traditional, appearance-first pedigree standards, advocating instead for genetic outcrossing, reduced coefficients of inbreeding (COI), and animal welfare over closed-book aesthetic purity

Puppy mills

a high-volume commercial dog-breeding facility that prioritizes financial profit over the health, comfort, and welfare of the animals