I would suggest that many people have dogs because they are emotionally ready to be a caregiver and feel the desire for a nurturing relationship, but don’t feel

I would suggest that many people have dogs because they are emotionally ready to be a caregiver and feel the desire for a nurturing relationship, but don’t feel that child rearing is economically feasible. Perhaps if older generations hadn’t pulled the ladder up behind them, there would be more kids and fewer pet dogs.