MEDIA RELEASE
May 2011

Pets Are Better Communicators than Some Partners

New survey by Purina New Zealand delves into pets, humans and their emotions

In a new survey by Purina*, over 30% of New Zealanders agreed that their pet communicated its feelings better than their partner. Interestingly, over 70% of respondents thought pets had human-like emotions, indicating that the relationships between pets and their human owners appear intricate and more complex than was previously thought.

The survey looked into many facets of pets as a part of family life and the unique bond they share with their owners. With the majority of respondents saying that pets boosted their self-esteem, the emotional closeness between animals and humans is somewhat evident in the findings as pets can offer a sense of safety, warmth and love.

In reply to pets boosting self-esteem, one female respondent said it was because her pet didn’t “care how she looked”. Mostly, people surveyed said it was the “unconditional love” that came from pets that helped improve how they felt about themselves.

Comparing men and women was also intriguing, as nearly half of all women surveyed said that their pets communicated its feelings better than their partner did - this is in comparison to only 20% of men! Purina’s Pet Care Advisor Shivaun Statham says, “Pets can often fill important roles as companions, so this is a good explanation as to why people, and women in particular, see pets as good communicators of feelings. Pets can often be very expressive without using words.”

And pets aren’t just there for us emotionally; they also can help in a more practical sense. The survey included many anecdotal accounts of pets steering people away from danger. Over a third of Cantabrians said their pet had steered them away from danger or helped them in some way, more than any other region and with a higher percentage than the national average.

This could be due to the recent earthquakes, with many respondents recounting stories of how their pet had helped sense the major earthquake on the 22nd February. “We’ve been getting an increased number of calls through from pet owners on our free pet care advice service in regards to distressed animals after the Christchurch earthquakes. It’s important to remember that our pets may help us in our times of need, and we should consider their sensitivity or anxiousness when their environment is changing too,” says Statham.

Other examples of pets helping their owners in some way included: staying close when someone was sick; warning of a falling tree; saving a toddler from a hot drink; alerting owners to burglars who were then caught by police; and even a cat who forewarned its owner to a fire in a garage.

Cantabrians also won out as the region where people thought pets communicated their feelings better than their partner did, with 35% agreeing. Aucklanders were close behind at 32% and Wellingtonians were well behind, with only 21% thinking their pets communicated their feelings better.

Pets are an increasingly important part of the family, and giving them treats, services or special gifts is a fun way to mark one of our least complicated relationships. Nationally, nearly a quarter of those surveyed celebrated their pet’s birthday. Those that did treated their pet to special food or treats. Some more interesting celebrations included “a pool party” and “balloons”. As much as Cantabrians might not wish to admit, they celebrated their pet’s birthdays more often than Aucklanders at over 30%.

“Overall, we’re a nation of true pet lovers. This survey shows the positive and beneficial relationship that pets can have on people throughout their lives. Owning a pet is a big responsibility but is very rewarding all the same and can benefit the wellbeing of both animals and humans,” says Statham.

Purina New Zealand offers a free advice service at 0800 PET VIP: a dedicated team of pet care experts, including veterinary nurses and animal behaviourists is available to offer advice and support on a wide range of pet care questions, from health and nutrition to behaviour, training and socialisation, as well as information about Purina products.

www.purina.co.nz

ENDS

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