Family Life Course, Spiritual Trajectory and the Status Attributed to Animal Companions in a Rural Ecovillage.

The main objective of this communication is to study the social construction of the different statuses attributed to animal companions by the residents of a rural ecovillage in central Portugal. To this end, the social relationship of these men and women with animals is analyzed in the current context of the ecovillage and throughout their lives.

From a theoretical perspective, we conceptually triangulate animals, families, and contemporary spiritualities from a dynamic perspective to answer the following research question: How do the statuses attributed to companion animals vary according to the ecovillage residents' family life course and spiritual trajectory?

In this comprehensive, qualitative study, 12 semi-directive, in-depth interviews were conducted with ecovillage residents, whether they live with companion animals or not. Along with companion animals (cats and dogs), there are also chickens and plans to acquire other animals, such as donkeys and goats, that are not intended for food purposes. Furthermore, with the community's focus on protecting the area's biodiversity surrounding the home environment, there is a presence and peaceful coexistence with various wild animals.

The results presented provide a diachronic sociological knowledge of the relationship between humans and companion animals in an emerging context with an intense environmental ethic: an ecovillage in Portugal.