Brits Miss Pets More Than Family Whilst on Holiday
Brits Miss Pets More Than Family Whilst on Holiday
CHESTER, England, May 23, 2012-
- A third of British pet owners would rather go away with their furry friend
than their immediate family
- Forty seven per cent miss their pet the most when away on holiday
- Over a third have taken a pet on holiday
New research of British pet owners by travel comparison website TravelSupermarket
[http://www.travelsupermarket.com/holidays ] has confirmed our unique status as a
‘pet-mad’ nation. With one Bank Holiday down and another just around the corner, summer is
firmly on the horizon and a third (32 per cent) of Brits who own pets would rather go on
holiday with their four-legged-friends than their immediate family, given the choice *.
Giving a whole new meaning to being in the ‘doghouse’, 13 per cent of Brits admitted they
would choose their pet over their partner and 10 per cent would opt to take their pet on
holiday over the children, if they had the opportunity.
For those travelling without the family pet this year, one in two pet owners in the UK
(47 per cent) said that when they leave their family behind for foreign travels, it is
their pet that they miss most of all while they’re away. Immediate family members trailed
a distant second, identified by a third of Brits (33 per cent). Twenty-eight per cent of
British pet owners said it was their partner they missed most whilst away.
But as this research has found, our pets are never far from thought when we do go on
holiday. Nearly half (43 per cent) confessed they give their pet some extra TLC when they
return home from a holiday and one in five (18 per cent) make sure they bring back a
souvenir for their furry friend. Forty per cent of pet owners also said they regularly
check up on their pet whilst away to make sure they are okay. Thirty-six per cent revealed
that their pet’s welfare is their biggest worry when they do leave them behind.
However, the research by TravelSupermarket has identified that a significant number of
British pet owners (39 per cent) are now choosing to take their pets away with them on
holiday either domestically or internationally. Dog owners who have taken their pooch away
with them recently said they didn’t just do it for their own benefit - nearly
three-quarters (73 per cent) believe that their pet enjoyed the experience and that it
broadened their ‘doggy-horizons’.
Case Study: ‘Snoop’
One particular pooch who has clocked up his fair share of miles is Snoop, a
five-year-old Parson Jack Russell terrier from Lincoln who regularly travels to France and
has even walked the cobblestones of Belgium. Snoop holds a ‘pet passport’ which he has now
had for two years, taking him on sixteen trips overseas so far with another one booked for
July. As his owners travel regularly by car and ferry across the Channel, Snoop’s ‘Dad’
Tom Bollan says they don’t feel like the whole family is with them unless the family pet
is there as well. “If Snoop wasn’t with us, we’d just spend our holiday worrying about him
.. We love to see Snoop run around with the kids and soak up the French country air and we
do believe he enjoys getting away from it all as much as we do!”
For more information on Snoop’s travels across Europe, please contact 3 Monkeys
Communications for images, further information or anecdotes.
TravelSupermarket’s travel expert Bob Atkinson says: “We all know that Brits love
their pets and this research has found that many pet owners are happy to admit we actually
miss our furry friends more than we miss immediate family and friends when we are away.
“It’s never been easier to travel with your cat or dog thanks to the recent relaxation
of DEFRA quarantine laws and the accessibility of ‘pet passports’. The rules do vary
slight by country and pet, but generally your pet will need to be micro-chipped and
vaccinated against rabies in order to gain a pet passport - avoiding the need for beloved
animals sitting in quarantine for lengthy periods of time when travelling between
countries.
“For those planning a staycation this year, there are, of course, many hotels, holiday
parks and caravan sites that will allow guests to bring along a pet here in the UK.
“However, if you do plan to take your pet abroad, just double check whether your pet
insurance policy covers for travel overseas. If it doesn’t, phone your provider to see if
it can be added to your policy for the duration of your trip.”
* Opinium Research carried out an online survey of 2,010 UK pet owners on behalf of
TravelSupermarket.com aged 18+ from 29 March to 3 April 2012. Results have been weighted
nationally representative criteria
About TravelSupermarket
TravelSupermarket is an online comparison service where customers can find the best
value travel options for their needs and purchase over the internet. The website compares
flights, car hire, hotels, cruise, package holidays plus dynamic packaging by searching
hundreds of travel websites. The information supplied is unbiased and is designed to save
the customer time and money.
The site thrives on offering its users accurate real time availability by taking
information directly from suppliers such as Opodo, British Airways, Thomas Cook, Radisson,
Auto-Europe and many more, ensuring users are presented the best possible price at all
times. It searches:
- More than 650 scheduled, low cost and charter airlines from 35 individual
suppliers
- More than 200,000 individual hotels from over 41 individual hotel suppliers
- More than 200 individual car hire providers from over 20 suppliers
- 1,000s of individual package holidays from over 20 suppliers
Additionally, travelsupermarket.com also compares prices on travel insurance and on
airport car parking.
TravelSupermarket is part of the Moneysupermarket.com Group PLC.
http://www.moneysupermarket.com is a website where consumers can compare personal
finance products, save money and apply online. The website has several service areas
including personal loans, credit cards, mortgages, current accounts, savings accounts,
motor insurance, home insurance, travel insurance, health insurance, mobile phones,
broadband and shopping.
Contact:
Emma Morris
travelsupermarket.com
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+44(0)1244-220-671
Source: TravelSupermarket