ABSTRACT
Human/animal bond research has revealed that a pet’s roles in a human being’s life are influenced by individual perception of the pet’s attributes. By extrapolating from this conclusion, the companion animal’s role in the preadolescent’s psychosocial development is delineated. A pet is classified as a developmental resource during preadolescence since it is perceived as a responsibility and a friend. Perception of a pet is influenced by the demands of development and thus should change over time. A static relationship indicates cause for concern.
