SOCIOLOGICAL DIMENSIONS OF HUMAN AND ANIMAL INTERACTION IN THE CONTEXT OF CHANGING SOCIAL RELATIONS

Animals are living creatures that have had an important place in people's lives since ancient times. Regardless of their species, many animals have been and continue to be involved in human life in various aspects. While in the past, relationships with animals were established for tasks such as hunting, feeding, warming and providing security, in recent years the purpose of this relationship has expanded and the effects of some species on human life have differed. Having a pet is more than just an individual choice, it is also an important phenomenon that shapes social dynamics and cultural norms. Throughout history, humans have interacted with animals in various ways, and these interactions have profoundly affected the social structure and cultural values of societies. Today, pet ownership, in addition to improving the quality of life of individuals, emerges as an element that strengthens social ties and enriches social capital. The rapid changes experienced with industrialization have created new dynamics in social relations and weakened the social ties of individuals. Especially in coping with many social and psychological problems that develop in parallel with loneliness and alienation today, relationships established with pets contribute to the increase of social welfare by positively affecting the emotional and psychological health of individuals. Today, our relationship with animals is not limited to pet ownership, but also manifests itself in many areas such as therapy, education, scientific research and environmental protection. While pets positively affect people's emotional and physical health, animal-assisted therapies are used to treat a variety of ailments. Additionally, animal ownership supports a broad industry and stimulates economic activities. Animal-related sectors constitute an important area of economic activity, creating employment and contributing to economic growth. In this article, the social dimensions of keeping pets are discussed and the socio-economic and cultural elements of this phenomenon are examined from a broad perspective, starting from its historical development until today. The aim of this article is to highlight that pet dogs are playing an increasingly central role in people's lives and the consequences of this for the tourism industry. In addition, the article identifies a lack of analysis regarding the position of pet dogs in tourism.