To those of us who count our dogs and cats as members of the family, hearing the results of a recent poll was no surprise. My wife and I nodded when we saw the story. In many ways, our lives are centered on our three Dachshunds and cat.
I'm sure some will disagree, and that's fine. Anyway, it was interesting to read that an Associated Press-Petside.com poll this week found that half of all American pet owners consider their pets as much a part of the family as anyone in the household. Another 36 percent said their pet, while not a full member, is still a part of the family.
That's 86 percent who feel their pet is at least a part of the family. Personally, I can see why.
We worry when they're sick, we get anxious when they don't eat all their food, we buy them toys to play with and we appreciate their companionship. That's love.
The poll also found that single people were more likely to say a pet was a full member of the family than married people (66 percent of single women vs. 46 percent of married women). Also, men were less likely to call their pet a full member of the family. Another 42 percent said they take their pets on vacation.
The fact is, we love our pets. And they love us back. Isn't that what we expect from family?
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