A significant 63% of British dog owners say their pet is their best friend – and nearly half (46%) say their dog is the most important member of their family.
According to a study by GalaBingo.com, seven in 10 dog owners revealed they happily spent around £100-£200 a month on their pet, while around one in five (17%) spent as much as £200-£300 monthly, pushing annual spend to more than £2,400.
A huge 40% fork out for luxury or tailored food, according to the survey, while a quarter (26%) buy clothes for their pet. One in five (21%) have splashed out on a luxury cashmere bed or designer collar and one in 10 buy their dog a birthday cake.
Respondents revealed their pet was worth every penny, with a quarter of owners happy to spend more money on their pets than on themselves, with 82% saying that their dog cheered them up ‘significantly’. A quarter of those polled even said they preferred the company of their pooch to that of close friends or family.
Karina Adrian, head of brand marketing at GalaBingo.com, said: “It is so nice to see how many owners consider their pet a part of the family. A lot of our players talk about their pets, so we were already feeling pretty confident that people are devoted to their furry friends and the research shows that we really are a nation of animal lovers!”
