Shelly Volsche, PhD is a biocultural anthropologist studying the impact of social change on the structure and practice of families. Much of her research focuses on the growing importance of pets in homes without children, leading to a phenomenon called “pet parenting.” She is the author of the chapter, “Understanding Cross-Species Parenting: A Case for Pets as Children” in the book Clinician’s guide to treating companion animal issues: Addressing human-animal interaction (editors Lori Kogan and Chris Blazina; 2018). Dr, Volsche received her degree from University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2017, and her book Voluntarily Childfree: Changing Kinship in the U.S. (Lexington Press) is anticipated to be released in late 2019.
