It's the season of giving and Americans are not only sharing the love with family and friends, but with their four-legged family members when it comes to giving gifts.

An article in USA Today asks the question, "Is that weird?"

A survey by the American Pet Products Association shows 53% of dog owners and 38% of cat owners give their pets gifts during the holidays.

Mental health professionals say that most people recognize their pets are not furry humans.

"What's the harm?" says Stanley Coren , professor emeritus of psychology at the University of British Columbia and a Psychology Today columnist on human-pet interactions. "Someone may go spend $20 on a rhinestone collar. That's pretty much the worst that will happen."

Treating pets like family is particularly common among singles, empty nesters and the homebound, says Waco, Texas, psychologist Julia Becker.

Another survey shows 81% regard their pets as full members of the family, 58% call themselves their pets' "mommy" or "daddy," and 77% buy their pets birthday gifts.

Pets are the perfect are the perfect recipient for emotionally healthy humans' "need to nurture," Coren says.

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