Pets as Part of the Family
Pets have a tremendous impact on our lives, from who we date
to how we eat, from where we go on vacations to what we watch
on TV. Three out of four pet owners (75 percent) consider their
pet part of the family. Almost half (45 percent) would consider
taking their pet on family vacations. And nearly one in three
dog owners (31 percent) would take their pet to work if they
could, according to the Human-Animal Bond Survey by The Hartz
Mountain Corp. (Secaucus, N.J.).
Female owners show particularly strong bonds with their pets.
Women are twice as likely to spend more time with their pet
than with their spouse/mate (31 percent of women versus 15
percent of men). Furthermore, women are three times more likely
to say they would dump a mate their pet did not like (16 percent
of women versus 6 percent of men).
“We understand that pets represent an important place
in our families, and our first annual survey examines the
complex emotional connection between people and their loyal
pet companions,” said Alan Kerzner, corporate vice president
of marketing for Hartz. “Pets give unconditional love
to their owners.”
Here are more highlights from the survey:
- 56 percent of women and 41 percent of men talk about their
pets as though they are members of the family.
- 51 percent of dog owners and 40 percent of cat owners said
their pet sits by the dinner table and begs for human food.
- 48 percent of respondents said their pet sleeps on
the bed and hogs the covers and the pillow.
- 33 percent of respondents would take their pet to a pet
allergist or a pet dentist.
- 32 percent of respondents said money is not a concern when
it comes to their pet's health.
- 32 percent of respondents said their pet watches television.
- 19 percent of respondents own pets despite the fact that
they're allergic to them.
The nationwide survey, conducted by Harris Interactive (Rochester,
N.Y.) on behalf of Hartz, polled 1,518 U.S. pet owners. [July
2005 PET AGE]
|
