The Importance Of Canines In American Culture

What does being a best friend mean? Numerous opinions are often heard on what friendship is. However despite the various beliefs, most can agree that dogs constantly show true companionship. Often referred to as “man’s best friend,” canines are important in American culture. This is made prominent through books, movies, and even advertisements. In 2014, Chevy released an advertisement that showed the connection between a girl and her dog, choosing to suggest the idea that like your pet, a Chevy vehicle may in fact be “best friend” material. The first scene of the advertisement shows a woman and her dog in a veterinarian clinic in which it seems the dog is being put to sleep. It continues in reverse chronological order showing the journey of the woman’s life, from moving into her apartment, to learning how to drive a Chevrolet car, …show more content…
The commercial demonstrates the bonds that the woman and her dog have created and the memories they’ve shared. Aside from selling a product, the advertisement is displaying the importance of canines in American society and the strong connection between owners and pets. The persona they’ve created to aid in selling their vehicle reinforces the important role animals play in culture. According to Pamela Ivinski, an independent research assistant, “Dog owners also said they'd be willing to pay almost twice as much in medical fees as cat owners to save a beloved pet ($1183 versus $610). From this, Coren extrapolates that dog owners are more sociable and loving than cat owners, but what's more relevant is that dog owners appear to have more disposable income and a willingness to spend it on services and merchandise related to dogs--or advertised in images that feature dogs” (1). By showing amiability and affection the Chevy advertisers demonstrate the empathy dog owners have for their pets and the degrees they may go to in order to care for