Survey On Parent-Child Attitudes Toward Animal Welfare

More than 90% of survey respondents feel that it is important for parents and children to discuss respect for all living creatures.

It is clear that the public feels that harming a companion animal is unacceptable behavior and that personal choices such as vegetarianism, are acceptable.

Pet owners are no more likely to be pro-animal than non-pet owners, while women, African Americans and Hispanics are the most open to the idea of animal abuse.

Survey question asks “How important is it for parents and children to discuss the importance of respecting all living creatures, using current examples, like protecting wildlife, spaying or neutering the family dog and not causing harm to others?”

• Very important (71.2%)
• Somewhat important (23.8%)
• Not at all important (3.5%)
• Not sure (1.5%)

Demographically, those who feel this issue is very important are:

• 62.5% of men
• 65.9% of Republicans
• 67.7% of non-pet owners
• 69.9% of those living in rural areas
• 72.3% of those living in the Central/Great Lakes region
• 73.8% of pet owners
• 74% of those living in the East
• 74% of those 50 years and up
• 74.9% of African Americans
• 75.2% of those living in small cities
• 79.4% of those earning $25,000 or less
• 79.4% of all women
• 83.6% of those who work outside the home

“Imagine you would have a high school aged daughter who has told you that she is going to become a vegetarian. What would you do?”

• Give her your full support and encouragement (78.5%)
• Dismiss her decision as a phase and ignore her efforts (9.5%)
• Refuse to allow her to become vegetarian while she lives in your house (4.5%)
• Not sure (7.6%)

“Imagine you have a son who attends a show featuring Orca whales performing tricks in an outdoor tank. After the show, he tells you that he thinks the whales would be happier living in the ocean with their families. What would you do?”

• Research the living conditions of these animals to see if his concern is justified (40.3%)
• Tell him that if it what he saw bothers him, he need not go (24.1%)
• Tell him that they are animals and they are probably happy being cared for in captivity (21.4%)
• Not sure (14.2%)

The demographics of those who would investigate the living conditions with their son include:

• 46.3% of those living in suburbs
• 46.7% of Independents
• 48.5% of working women
• 49% of African Americans
• 49.5% of 50-64 year olds
• 55.1% of union members

“Imagine you have a daughter who does not want to participate in a frog dissection in her science class. She has told the teacher that she is opposed and she is willing to do something else to make up for the dissection. But her teacher will not accept any alternatives and has informed her that she will get a failing grade for that particular activity. What would you do?”

• Support your daughter and formally protest to the school about teacher’s decision (47.7%)
• Understand how your daughter feels, but encourage her to go through with the dissection because that is the way things are (38.2%)
• Insist that your daughter participate in the dissection no matter how she feels (7.4%)
• Not sure (6.7%)

The demographics of those who are most likely to support their daughter’s decision are:

• Women working outside the home (5%)
• Democrats (51.1%)
• Catholics (54.4%)
• African Americans (55.1%)
• Hispanics (57.8%)
• Those under 29 (59.7%)
• Those living in the East (61.6%)

“Imagine you have a son who tells you that some of his friends have been throwing rocks and hitting neighborhood cats. What would you do?”

• Tell your son that it is wrong to participate in such things and you call the other parents and local animal control authorities to let them know what has been going on (81.0%)
• Tell your son it is wrong and not to participate but it is not serious enough to inform the other parents or local humane agency authorities (14.8%)
• Ignore the behavior because it is kids just being kids and not a serious matter (1.6%)
• Not sure (2.6%)