Exploring Pet Ownership Among College Student-Athletes as Socially Acceptable Deviant Leisure

Companion animals have become increasingly prevalent in various sport settings; however, little research has considered pets relative to athletics. The purpose of this study was exploratory and sought to provide initial insights into the dynamics of pet ownership among college athletes as well as to offer new avenues for research on the topic of companion animals in sport more generally. Data from 23 semistructured interviews revealed four themes that describe the relationship between pet ownership and collegiate sports: companion animals elicit affectionate behavior in contrast to the aggression and competitiveness central to sport, possession of companion animals is frowned upon by team leaders, pets necessitate time away from sport, and pets prompt a shift in the locus of control away from sports. These findings suggest that pet ownership among college athletes can be viewed as a form of socially acceptable deviant leisure that facilitates identity development beyond sport.