Great news for pets across Aotearoa – new research reveals more than one quarter of ‘pet parents’ in a relationship prefer their furry friend’s company over that of their partner.

The revelation comes courtesy of pet insurance specialist PD Insurance, which surveyed 1,826 pet owners over the past four weeks to gain insight into New Zealanders’ relationships with our pets. The release of the research coincides with ‘Love Your Pet Day’ on February 20^th.

Results also show the majority adopted shelter dogs and cats rather than buying, increasingly take their dogs and cats on holidays, and a surprisingly large number of folks hold a ‘Pet Nup’.

“Sadly for many partners across the country, it seems a good proportion of us would rather hang out with Fido or Fluffy than the human we chose to share our life with,” laughs Michelle Le Long, PD Insurance COO. “But while that’s a bit of fun, our research also gained useful insights into attitudes to pet health and wellbeing and discovered that most take it very seriously. Plenty of people truly earn their designation as ‘pet parents’.”

The online survey targetted pet parents across NZ and asked 18 questions. Of the 1,498 people who had a partner, the most common response to ‘Do you love your pet more than your partner?’ (perhaps thankfully) was that their love was shared equally, for 52.7%. Some 26.2% shamelessly said ‘Yes’, the pet gets more love, while 21.1% said ‘No’.

In perhaps related news, 11.2% of respondents indicated the presence of a ‘Pet Nup’. This document does what the name implies and outlines who takes custody of the pets in a breakup, as well as who pays for pet care costs such as vet bills and insurance.

Adoption appetite

Abandoned or unwanted pets are an ongoing challenge for shelters across Aotearoa. Pet adoption alleviates the pressure on these facilities while giving surrendered, abandoned and stray dogs and cats a new lease on life. A slight majority of respondents said they’ve already adopted a shelter cat or a dog (51.4%) and 81.9% said they’re open to adoption in the future.

“That’s a ringing endorsement of pet love. What better way to be a good parent than taking in an unwanted dog or cat and making them the centre of your attention,” comments Le Long.

Holidays, and the workday

Getting away from it all is increasingly something we do with pets. More than half of pet parents include their fur babies on holiday adventures. Some 61.9% make it a ‘full’ family holiday, with 37.6% of these people having paid extra for pet-friendly accommodation in the past.

Back home, when the real world intrudes, a fair proportion take their pet along to the office, with 17.5% indicating this is their usual practice. Another 18.8% would like to but can’t, and 18.7% work from home with their pet. “That’s more than half of all Kiwis working with their pets; maybe there’s something in the theory of furry companions as a productivity aid!” quips Le Long.

Vets and pets: the costs involved

On a more serious note, the survey asked how much pet parents spend on medical bills annually. Less than half (45.5%) only spend under $500, 33% spend $501-$1,000 and 13.8% spend $1,001-$2,500. One pet owner in every 13 spends over $2,500 per year (7.6%), with 2.4% spending over $5,000.

“Vets bills are unpredictable,” notes Le Long, “And as people appreciate, their pet is a family member deserving of care when it’s required.”

One respondent had just such an experience. “Our 6 month old puppy was diagnosed with auto immune disease where his body attacked his red blood cells and he needed two blood transfusions,” reports Melissa. Facing costs of more than $5,000, she adds, “so grateful for insurance and that he is still with us.”

Of those surveyed, a significant proportion have pet insurance, at 37.4%. This result is more than double that revealed by PD Insurance research completed almost two and a half years ago, clearly showing the growing popularity of pet insurance in Aotearoa.

Le Long comments, “Pet insurance doesn’t break the bank, helps make pet medical care costs manageable, and absolutely assists emotionally and financially in a pet health emergency.”

Why we love our cheeky pets

Asked about their main reasons for loving their pets, responses varied widely. Kasey-Marie summed up the sentiment, saying, ‘their personalities and the love they give. I have no intention of having children myself, so my fur babies are my only babies and they’re spoilt and know it. They provide so much love, laughter and happiness. They are both quirky and hysterical.’

Lauren adds, ‘they’re family, my child.’ And Debbie’s dog is a winner: ‘he has an amazing character, funny, loyal, protective, gentle, caring and tolerant’.

Even if they’re dogs and cats, pets can also be cheeky monkeys. Asked about ‘the cheekiest’ thing they’ve gotten up to, Richard remembers one morning rather well when his dog “peed on my bag before work.” Scott’s cat went one further, sparing him the smell if not the disgrace: ‘peed on my flatmate’s suitcase! Oops.’ And Christmas came early for Maddie’s pup, who ‘ripped open the presents!’

The pets are good for us, too

New Zealand has well-documented mental health challenges and, for many, a pet is an outlet, a source of companionship and a reason for exercise and a happier life. When respondents were asked how pets contribute to this, the most popular response was their pet/s helps with mental health (82.7%), 80.8% said their pet/s make them laugh, and 79.1% confirm they cheer them up, 78.8% noted unconditional love and 64.4% said their pet/s supports their emotional stability. The sixth most popular response was that their pet helps them exercise (61.2%).

This coincides with walkies being the most popular pet-plus-human activity reported, but some go a little further. For Avril’s pup it’s ‘Going daily to the local coffee shop; coffee for me and two cooked sausages for 12 years old Skyla.’

Showing love for their fur family is one of the great rewards for pet parents; Clare does that for her dog ‘By caring for her. Food, shelter, love, exercise, vet care, medications, outing and training!’ Kat’s cat gets the works: ‘Lots of pats and treats. We have a fancy feast Friday where they have a tin each which they really enjoy. They have free reign of the house too and they get first pick of the best spot on the bed.’

While Kiwi pet parents are a diverse, enthusiastic lot – much like their cats and dogs – they share a common appreciation for caring and looking after their animal companions, says Le Long. “And Love Your Pet Day is a perfect time for some extra special fun and enjoyment with the creatures who do so much for us. It’s also a good time to consider pet insurance so your pets are assured of the best care when they need it.”

Media contact 

Leandri Smith – The Mail Room 
027 365 9003 | [email protected]