Pet owners wear their hearts on their sleeves when it comes to pets, with research revealing almost 15% admit to loving them more than they do their human partner.
The research, commissioned by Maguire Family Law, surveyed 1,254 UK adults who are in a relationship and have at least one pet, and revealed some startling results. Women are the most likely to choose their pet over their partner, with only 47% declaring they love their other half more (compared to 57% of men). Guinea pigs and parrots proved the most beloved companions, with 25% of their owners stating their furry or feathered friend trumped their partner in the love stakes.
When it comes to the possibility of relationship breakdown, a quarter of respondents confirmed they would take legal action against their partner to fight for pet ownership, with one in twenty already having a formal agreement in place to prepare for such an eventuality.
James Maguire, managing director of Maguire Family Law, said: 'Although our research shows a third of pet owners in relationships think animals should be treated the same as children when it comes to breakups, unfortunately, the law doesn’t agree. Under current legislation in England and Wales, pets are treated as an item of personal property – the same as a piece of furniture, for example.
'Obviously, the emotional attachment to pets can be huge, which is why we see so much upset over who gets to keep them when a couple divorces. If you get an agreement in writing, there may be issues around its enforceability if there’s a dispute, but we find if a couple agrees on matters upfront, they usually stick to this.'
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