Beloved pets keep couples together
BRITAIN is such a nation of animal lovers that many warring couples stay together purely for the sake of the family pet.
A survey found 15 per cent of people had come close to leaving, only to stay because of the animal.
And while we would naturally consider the impact of a break-up on children, it appears that our pets can suffer too.
One in three who did leave said their cat or dog became confused.
One in four reported signs of anxiety or stress in the pet.
Among those who decided against walking out because of their pet, one in three revealed they would not have been able to decide who had custody.
And one in four people said they could not face leaving the animal at a rescue centre.
Fourteen per cent of those who have split up eventually had to turn to a vet for medication to help their pet cope with the stress.
Underlining the importance of pets as being part of the family, one in 10 said they would rather fight for custody of a beloved pet compared to just seven per cent who would battle over a financial settlement.
John Ellenger, head of pet insurance at More Than, which commissioned the survey of 2,000 pet owners, said it has become clear that the welfare of pets has to be considered when relationships end.
He said: “Our beloved pets have never played a more important role in our day-to-day lives.
“As our study reveals, a number of pet owners will remain in a relationship in order to prevent their shared pet from experiencing negative effects from a break-up.
“It is testament to the lengths we’ll go to protect our pets’ emotional well-being – even if it means making sacrifices of our own.”
He added: “If couples do decide to split and they share an animal, it remains important to keep the pet’s best interests at heart when arranging future living arrangements, as a means of minimising the stress of lifestyle changes.”
PETS have the power to keep couples together, says a new study which shows many owners choose not to break up because of their furry friends. If they’re helping keep families together this is surely just one more reason to be grateful for our animal companions.