Nearly one in five (19%) UK pet owners have moved home to keep their pets happy, according to a new study into the behaviour and attitudes of pet owners.
According to the poll of 1,500 pet owners across the UK by Amazon, there is little owners won’t do to accommodate their pets’ needs, with one in five admitting to changing holiday plans, one in seven living with allergies and one in 15 even changing jobs.
This devotion is reflected in the attitudes of owners towards their pets, with 60% saying that people should get compassionate leave if their pet dies, one in three saying people should get ‘peternity’ leave when taking on a new furry companion and more than half of UK pet owners (55%) saying they prefer pets to humans.
AVERAGE SPEND
According to the survey – celebrating the launch of the Face of Amazon Pets 2019 competition – UK pet owners spend £41 a month on average on their animal friends, with one in four spending more on their pet’s grooming needs than their own.
Pets are treated like a member of the family, with 15% confessing to having bought an item of fancy dress for their pet and nearly half (47%) celebrating their pet’s birthday, with top activities including buying new toys (64%), baking them a pet-friendly cake (24%) and throwing them a ‘pawty’ (20%). And 42% of UK pet owners also send birthday cards or presents from their pets to their friends and family.
Pet owners were unified in believing that having a pet helps them improve their mental health – a massive 8%. They also believe that pets are capable of human emotions (71%).
To celebrate the nation’s pets and their proud owners, Amazon has launched a search to find a diamond in the ‘ruff’ to become the Face of Amazon Pets 2019 in the UK.
