A new survey by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has revealed that over 1.6 million Australians (or 14% of pet owners) would rather spend Valentine’s Day with their pet than their partner. 

The results also revealed that over 400,000 Aussies would prefer to spend 14 February with their pet than anyone else. 

The survey was commissioned by WSPA to support the Collars not Cruelty campaign, www.collarsnotcruelty.org.au, a campaign that aims to help the situation in which the fear of rabies drives the slaughter of 38 dogs every minute around the world.  

The omnibus survey also found that 360,000 Australian pet owners (3 percent) are planning on purchasing a present for their pet this Valentine’s Day. 

The survey findings supplement the 2011 WSPA survey which found that more than three in five dog owners say they like their dog more than their grandfather (68%) and grandmother (63%). It also found that many dog owners like their dog more than their brother (53%) and sister (53%), whilst almost one in five Aussies preferred their dog to their partner. We truly are a pet-loving nation! 

WSPA estimates that approximately 400 million dogs around the world suffer on the streets. A dog is killed every two seconds. One of the main reasons is to control rabies but WSPA believes that culling is inhumane and it won’t work. 

Emily Reeves, Regional Director of Programmes for Asia Pacific: “Australians clearly love animals! So we need to step up to the plate as hundreds of dogs are being killed throughout the world because of a fear of rabies. WSPA’s pioneering rabies vaccination program in Bali has prevented the inhumane culling of over 300,000 dogs on the island. It has demonstrated that mass vaccination is the humane and effective way to protect communities from the disease. 

“WSPA programs deal with immediate issues like these, as well as addressing the root causes of poor dog welfare. Community education programs across some of our global projects, for example, help ensure long-term change and encourage neighbouring communities and governments to take lasting action.” 

The WSPA Valentine’s survey was a nationwide poll of 1010 (683 pet owners) Australians aged 18 and over, commissioned by WSPA and conducted by Lonergan Research in January 2012. We asked pet owners who they would rather spend Valentine’s Day with and who they would buy a Valentine’s gift for. 

Other results:  

• Two in five (42%) Australian pet owners rated their pets in the top three of whom they would like to spend Valentine’s Day with (the list included son, daughter, partner, parent, no-one, friends)
• Those aged 45 years or more (6%) are more likely to have their pets as their most preferred Valentine’s Day company than those aged 44 years or less (1%).
• Women (18%) are more likely than men (10%) to prefer to spend this Valentine’s Day with their pets over their partner.
• The majority (80%) prefer to spend this Valentine’s Day with their pets than spend it alone
• 58% prefer pets to their parents as their Valentine’s Day companion.
• More than two in five (43%) prefer to spend this Valentine’s Day with their pets over their son or daughter, whilst 37% want to spend this Valentine’s Day with their pets more than their friends.
• Single men (12%) are more likely than single women (5%) to plan on buying their pets a Valentine’s Day gift.