A dog’s life for parents nagged into buying a pet
A family pet A TENTH of parents hassled by kids into buying a dog or cat have given it away because they couldn’t cope.
A third told a survey they’d caved in to children’s nagging to buy a pet – and had then regretted it.
One in 10 of the 2,000 polled moaned they had to do all the work in looking after the animal.
Twelve per cent said family life would be much easier if the pet was gone.
A common grumble was that animals restricted family holidays.
One in three said their children barely pay the pet any attention.
The survey for toy pet company Scruff-a-luvs also found the average parent spends 10 hours a week caring for the animal, which costs €60 a month in food and other supplies.
The RSPCA’S Dr Samantha Gaines said: “In the past year we have rescued and collected 114,584 animals and found new homes for more than 44,611 animals.
“We urge people not to be led by how an animal looks or how cute they are but to get to know their amazing personalities.”