Man's best friend is their pet: fact

Confused.com proves that the dog really is a man's best friend, after its latest research reveals that men prefer to spend time with their pet than their partner.

The price comparison site also revealed a potential headache for employers. One in three workers admitted taking time off to care for their sick pet and one in ten of men saying they regularly take ‘Peternity' leave because they are worried or stressed about the health of their prized pooch. And although over half of all women are more sympathetic towards an un-well pet than an un-well partner - they choose to go to work despite the worry.

Darren Black, head of pet insurance at Confused.com said: "The worry that our furry friends cause is strong so pet owners should look to lessen the stress by ensuring they've got pet insurance. For as little as £3.87 pets can be covered for vet fees and life saving treatment meaning owners can focus on getting the pet better, rather than how they will find the money to pay for it."

The research also revealed twenty per cent of men had forgotten their partner's birthday but remembered their pets.

Regionally statistics revealed 55% of Scots feel more compassion towards an ill animal than a fellow human being and 19% of Welsh and 19% of Londoners would rather spend time with their pet than their partner.