My pets are a member of my family because they are just like people. They can't speak and they need someone to take care of them so that would put them closer to the role of a child in the family. They each have their own personalities. They look at us as their family too. They have a role in the household just as every other member of the family does. They also require affection and attention just as any person does. If you don't consider your pet a part of the family then you should not have pets.