Dogs are widely regarded as man’s best friend. However, how much do you really know about dogs and how they interact with humanity? This short but concise article proposes to give you a few fun facts about the world’s favorite pet and what we humans think about them.
A survey done by Kelton Research found that 81% of Americans see their dogs as family members. Likewise, the majority talk to others about their dogs as though they were another human that lived in the household. Emotions such as frustration and loss, joy and worry were part of a dog owners live as they sought out ways they believe that make their beloved pet’s life better. An amazing 90% of people in the petMD claim they would do more during divorce proceedings to keep their pets than they would to ensure equitable financial distribution.
Over 50% of the people who own dogs consider themselves the parents of the animal rather than owners. Close to 60% of individual dog owners refer to themselves as mother or father to their animals as if they were talking about a son or daughter. An astonishing 10% actually celebrate mother and father’s day with their animals. An amazing 72% of pet owners use the same discipline techniques with their children as they do their dogs.
Pet owners as the majority are typically aware of their past birthday, 81% of dog owners actually celebrate their furry friend’s birthday, and 77% actually buy their goofy friend a present on his big day. Most dog owners display photos of their pets around their homes with the average number of photos per dog per household approaching seven. Seventy one percent of people even carry a picture of their favorite pet with them throughout the day. Twenty one percent of dog owners have special photo albums dedicated to their beloved pets.
I have a friend who recently told me that if he had to choose between saving humanity and the animals on the planet it would almost certainly choose saving the animals over saving humanity. I found this point of view rather amazing and somewhat disturbing because it seems to go against every understanding I have about self-preservation in species loyalty. Strangely enough, the petMD survey confirms what my friend believes as it indicated that 73% of all individuals who took the survey would choose their dog over human if they can only have one friend.
Politics is sort of a hobby of mine and thus I know quite a bit about it. What I did not know is that 66% of all dog owners would not vote for a presidential candidate who is known dislike pets. With all the problems we have in the world today dealing with each other as humans this little affection that pet owners have taken seems a little silly to me.
Being a very social person, I also find it rather odd that 60% of pet owners would not go on a second date with someone who did not like pets. Do not get me wrong. I love my pets but I find my social interactions of humans to be significantly more important and of greater depth than I do my interactions with my pets.
Social interactions between humans and animals can reach a particularly disturbing among some individuals. A recent collegiate survey pertaining to interspecies sexual relations found that 8% of adult have had some form of sexual interaction with an animal. I myself find this very disturbing and I make no apologies for it. There is something in my mind that perceives such a relationship to be the product of a very sick mind.
Studies among animal shelters showed that dogs have a much less chance of being euthanized than cats do. In fact, animal shelters are receiving fewer dogs at the same time the number of cats being placed in animal shelters has been steadily increasing.
A study done by the British Kennel Club found that approximately 75% of mothers believe that their pets are more capable of displaying affection and love for them than are their own children. Rather than being a reflection upon the emotional openness of their doggy friends, I see this as a reflection of the lack of understanding of how to be a real parent to children and teach them how to be loving and affectionate. It is no wonder that as a species we seem to be going down the tubes.
I’m sure you have your own opinions about dogs and pet ownership and you can have your say as well by signing up at the many survey companies contained in my master survey list who will pay you for your opinions about pets and tons of other consumer related issues. You can find my list of paying surveys by going to the home page of this blog or by clicking here.