It's me or the dog!
Owning a pet can be a deal-breaker when it comes to choosing a potential partner, with nearly one in ten (8%) admitting that they wouldn't go out with someone who owned an animal, according to research from Confused.com.
Perhaps surprisingly - and despite being widely regarded as ‘man's best friend' - it is in fact dogs (35%) that are the most off-putting animal when it comes to rejecting a possible love-interest based on their choice of pet. Our canine companions are closely followed by snakes, with three in ten (29%) admitting they would turn down a potential partner if they owned one of the scaly reptiles.
Most off-putting pets
1. Dogs (35%)
2. Snakes (29%)
3. Cats (15%)
4. Fish (11%)
5. Lizard (6%)
And the reasons for these anti-pet sentiments - a third (32%) fear that their partner's pet might not like them and one in 10 (9%) are worried that their partner's ex might still come and visit the pet. However for many Brits who shun partners with pets (54%) it's simply down to the fact that they don't like animals.
Yet pet owners have equally strong opinions when it comes to animals dictating their relationship future, with one in ten (10%) admitting that they would dump their partner if they didn't get on with their pet. What's more, nearly a third (30%) of animal-loving Brits wouldn't even consider dating someone who didn't like animals.
The findings also reveal that a third of pet owners (33%) admit to treating their animal like a child, with a further one in ten (8%) claiming that they love their pet more than their partner. A similar number of owners (11%) also admit that their pet is the most important thing in their life. Perhaps then it is not a surprise to learn that 7% of devoted pet owners would even take their ex to court to gain custody of their shared pet
Yet despite professing this undying love for their pets 60% of owners do not have pet insurance, meaning their animal companions might not be protected should the worst happen.
To find out more about insuring your pet visit the Confused.com pet insurance page which contains lots of information, including links to useful articles and guides about pet insurance.
Kate Rose, Head of Pet Insurance at Confused.com says: "According to our research it would seem that many people have strong opinions and feel passionately when it comes to how pets affect their relationship choices. For pet owners in particular, their animals can occupy an incredibly important place in their life so it's important that they know they're protected should the worst happen".