Pets' roles in the home have gone from just a pet to a member of the family in recent years. In a  Q & A session  with  TIME , journalist Michael Schaffer talks about his new book, One Nation Under Dog , and what he has discovered about people's need to treat pets like children.

Some of his discoveries include petfood reflecting trends seen in human food, such as going organic; pets being seen as a support system and member of the family; and despite the economy, those who have the resources continue to pamper their pets because they are seen as a key part of their owners' lives.