Aussie Companion Animals Enjoy Purr-fect Life

This survey by a companion animal product retail company explores Australians’ relationships to their companion animals. The survey finds a high level of attachment to companion animals, including a willingness to include them as family members and to form emotional bonds with them.

Study findings (excerpted from article):

• Australia has one of the highest incidences of companion animal ownership in the world, with 36% of households owning a dog and 23% owning a cat.
• 71% of owners would stay home and 80% would cut their holiday short to look after their sick companion animal.
• 82% companion animal owners in NSW consider themselves to be a parent to their companion animal.
• 88% would dip into their savings and 64% of people would take out a loan if their companion animal’s life was in danger.
• 68% have a closer relationship with their companion animal than with some of their friends.
• 84% agree that companion animals understand their moods and feelings.
• 74% say that if their companion animal seems unhappy, they feel unhappy.