So, when it comes to Valentine's Day, we all ask ourselves the question . . . what do we get the ones we love? A card, sexy lingerie, a romantic dinner for two, or how about something simple like "more quality time together?" Sounds good, right?
Well, in this case we're not talking about the relationship between two humans. Rather, we're talking about the strong emotional connection between a pet owner and their beloved pet(s). WebVet recently conducted a survey among pet owners about the top Valentine's gifts they would bestow on their pets to show them just how much they love them. And I have to tell you . . . I was so remarkably surprised and pleased at the results.
Of the pet owners who responded to the survey (and there were lots of them), the number one thing they said they would grant their pets was "more quality time together". Historically, we might have heard things like special dog treats, walks in the park, and more "stuff". What we're hearing today is a direct result of the bond we, as humans have developed with our beloved pets. There are more empty-nesters, more same-sex partnerships, more singletons, and as a result, more households that want and need a pet as part of their family. In fact, 67% of US households have at least one pet, while only 33% have a child under the age of 18 living at home.
So, what's the big frickin' surprise. We crazy humans have a crazy, loving, undeniable bond with our pets. And some stuffed animal or peanut butter cookie just doesn't cut it anymore. We, in our infinite wisdom and understanding of humanity, combined with our love for our animals, know that it's a very simple value proposition. We spend time with those we love and love those with whom we spend time.
God bless our animals.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Hope, Max, Pi and Piou Piou
UPDATE: We tasked one of our favorite writers to go out and ask WebVet users
what quality time with their pets really means, and why it means so much.
Click here for the full story, and feel free to share your stories in our
comments field - we'd love to hear them.
How true. Time is the best gift of all - and focused time too.
Posted by: The Pet Book Lady | February 10, 2009 at 10:29 PM