The decision of a woman in San Diego to have a senior Chihuahua instead of a child backfired hilariously when the dog exhibited behaviors that were similar to those of a crying baby.
In an viral TikTok (shared by @sammielolo3) video, Button, the Chihuahua dog, can be seen crying and scratching at furniture. These are the exact behaviors that the dog’s owner wanted to avoid, so he chose not to have children.
Overlay text on the video reads “Got a puppy in my 20s. I wasn’t prepared for a demanding and crying child.” 15 years later… The dog I ended up with.” Button’s voice is further highlighted in the caption, which says: “One thing about Button – she will always speak up when something she wants.” The humorous scenario highlights the growing trend of young adults who delay or avoid parenthood to adopt pets.
This trend is influenced by a number of factors, such as financial insecurity and climate-change concerns. In 2024, according to an American Association of Psychologists survey, 30% of adults between 18 and 34 without children are unsure whether or not they want kids. Another 18% say that it is a certainty. Pet ownership is on the rise, which coincides with this hesitance towards parenting.
According to *Forbes*, pet ownership in the US has surged in recent decades. By 2024 approximately 66% of American homes (or about 86.9million households) will own a pet. This is a 10 percent increase compared to 1988. Pet ownership has increased as a result of the changing perceptions about pets in families.
YouGov’s survey in 2023 of 2,000 US residents found that 90% of pet owners consider animals as part of their family. Nearly 40 percent of Americans identify as pet parents, and 30 percent even buy gifts for animals during the holidays, which shows how strong an emotional bond humans form with their pets.
TikTok’s video was a hit with the viewers. It quickly racked up over 800,000 views and received 154,000 Likes. Others shared stories of their experiences with small, demanding dogs.
MADISON AMARA commented that a “small dog” will advocate for himself.
Ghazaleehhh wrote: “My pet would bark for me to lift him and place him on the mattress (he has stairs), then jump down and leave. He’d then do it at least five more times before going to bed.
Jac continued: “I did not want screaming kids so now I own two toy-breed dogs that bark when they hear wind.”
The humorous stories illustrate the challenges and rewards that come with pet ownership. This is especially true for small dogs like Chihuahuas. The story is a good example of the trend for young adults choosing pet companionship. There are surprising similarities between the care for a demanding canine and that of raising a kid, with special attention paid to the senior dog’s needs.