by Yvonne DiVita, Hop Over and Like Us on Facebook!
Most of my pet parent friends are adding 'extra' thought to their New Year's Resolutions. Are you? Some pet parents (the ones at my house, for sure!) are including how they care for their pets in their list of things they want to improve in 2012.
To that end, our friends at Halo, Purely for Pets recently checked in with more than 1,000 pet parents for the Pet Parents’ New Year’s Resolution Survey.
Here's what I discovered (content shared via Romeo the Cat's Mom, Caroline):
According to the survey, many pet parents want to do a better job grooming their pets, with 68.1 percent resolving to trim their pets’ nails more often, 52.6 percent planning to give their dogs and cats more baths, and more than 80 percent committing to more frequent brushings. A little more than 35 percent plan to give their pets supplements to help their coat and skin.
Finally, the pets may not like this, but a full 50 percent of pet owners plan to brush their pet’s teeth more often. (ok...ok...this one is pretty important and I promise to try!)
Nearly 46 percent of respondents plan to help their pets lose weight. Considering recent studies show that more than 50 percent of dogs and cats are overweight, this awareness and recognition among pet owners is encouraging in the battle against pet obesity.
The majority (68.7 percent) of respondents with overweight pets plan to help their pets drop pounds by increasing exercise and 44 percent are going to feed their pets better quality food. A little more than 35 percent are going to reduce the amount of food their pets eat.
An overwhelming number (94.1 percent) of those surveyed plan to help pets in need this year, with nearly 70 percent saying they will donate to a rescue or shelter. Other ways respondents say they’ll help pets in need include fostering (11.9 percent), adopting another pet (11.5 percent) and playing freekibble.com or freekibblekat.com to earn Halo Spot’s Stew donations for shelters (45.5 percent).
Survey respondents were invited to share additional resolutions. Among the favorites:
“Take them to the beach.”
“Hand make toys and cushions for them.”
“Make sure he drinks more water.”
“Build new cat trees.”
“Train my dog to ride to the dog park in his Harley side car.”
All in all, it looks like it’s going to be a great 2012 for the pets. Many of the survey respondents said they are making New Year’s resolutions to spend more time with their pets and make sure they are loved even more than they were last year. (is that possible? ok...maybe... I love my pets so much it's hard to imagine loving them more; but, I do think we can do more for them - and more for all the pets languishing in shelters - who's with me?)
Comments