Over half of people in B.C. love their dog more than their spouse: poll

Are you guilty of sometimes loving your dog more than your spouse? You’re not alone, according to a new poll that tracked just how fond British Columbians are of their pets.

Over half – 54 per cent – of respondents in the Insights West poll said there are days when they love their dog more than their partner.

And it seems their affections also have a lot of influence toward how they live their life.

Ever ended a relationship because your partner didn’t like your dog? Again, you’re not alone. Eighty per cent of people in B.C. said they wouldn’t date or marry someone who didn’t get along with their furry friend.

A majority, at 58 per cent, also said they’ve stayed home from an event because they didn’t want to leave their pet alone.

And if anyone ever doubted it, the love is very real. Respondents almost unanimously agreed – 99 per cent – that they consider their dog to be part of their family.

“British Columbia’s dog owners undoubtedly express a deep-seated love for their pets,” said Mario Canseco, vice president of public affairs at Insights West. “However, as indicated by many non-dog owners, this love should not be used as a licence to overlook existing waste and leashing regulations.”

Canseco is referring to the majority of non-dog owners who said they’ve seen pet owners not picking up after their pet (93 per cent) and have seen dog’s let off leash (96 per cent).

But dog owners disagree, saying they always pick up after their dog (95 per cent) and make sure it is leashed while outside (75 per cent).

No matter how they look after their pets, dogs are extremely common in B.C. One third of residents have at least one dog in their home.

Results are based on an online study conducted from July 24 to July 29, 2016, among a representative sample of 879 British Columbian adults. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 3.3 percentage points.