Love is in the air—for pets and pet owners that is! Fifty five percent of single Americans prefer to stay at home with their dog or cat than to go out for Valentine’s Day, according to a survey by AKC Pet Insurance. The study, which surveyed 1,000 dog and cat owners in America, sheds light on how pet parents prefer to spend Valentine's Day, and how pets influence them in their romantic preferences and relationships. Additionally, the survey includes the following findings: • 46 percent of single pet owners prefer to date someone who owns a dog or a cat (55 percent of the respondents say they do not prefer to date someone who dislikes dogs or cats) • 60 percent of pet owners in relationships say their pet brought them and their partner closer • 50 percent of couples prefer to stay home with their pets on Valentine’s Day then go out • One in five respondents who are in a relationship says they prefer to spend time with their pet than with their partners. Further, one in four of the respondents prefer to cuddle with their pets than their partners. “The majority of pet owners (87 percent) shared they spend up to $30 on their pets when gift giving,” says Beth Schmidt, AKC Pet Insurance representative and pet trends expert. “We also uncovered how much of a critical role pets are playing in relationships, and we actually found 60 percent of respondents felt their dog or cat has brought them closer together with their partners.” “We wanted to gain further insight into the role pets play in our lives when it comes to relationships–whether we are single or have a partner. Results confirmed some fun truths,” adds Schmidt. “The underlying theme [of the survey]–our relationships with our pets and our romantic relationships are not mutually exclusive–very much influence each other.” To view the full results, click here.
