60 Minutes/Vanity Fair Poll: Pets
Welcome to the 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair poll for November 2013. This month's poll centers on Americans and their pets. Why do we love having pets so much? It has been estimated that Americans spend more than $50 billion a year taking care of our beloved animals and that number rises every year regardless of economic conditions. Pets are good companions and provide their owners with friendship, loyalty and affection. They can lift our spirits. Some would argue that many animals receive better treatment than some humans do, and that a fraction of what we spend on them could go a long way toward alleviating hunger and homelessness in America. How much would you be willing to pay if your pet needed life-saving surgery? How many cats is too many cats? And now the results...
If their favorite pet needed surgery in order to live, 22 percent of Americans said they would pay up to $1,000. Nineteen percent would go up to $500, 14 percent would stop at $100, 10 percent would shell out $3,000, nine percent would hold the line at $5000 and 15 percent of very well-heeled Americans would pay $10,000 or more. These answers are somewhat contingent on a person's bank account. At the higher end of the spectrum between $1,000 and $10,000 more dog owners (63 percent) than cat owners (44 percent) would be willing to pay more. In this case it may be that loyalty breeds loyalty.
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If you need proof that Americans really love their pets look no further. Seventy-eight percent said that if their house were on fire, they would go back inside to save their favorite pet. It seems odd that many of the same people who wouldn't pay $100 or $500 for life-saving pet surgery would risk their lives to save them from a fire. Once again, dog owners (81 percent) were a little more loyal than the cat owners (71 percent).
Three out of four Americans say they can trust their favorite pet's instincts about people either most of the time (33 percent) or always (42 percent). Only 22 percent have less trust in their furry friends ranging from some of the time to hardly ever to never. The most trusting of all Americans in their pet's instincts about people are female dog owners. So guys if you're trying to score points with a lady dog owner don't forget to bring some doggie treats with you.
Almost four out of 10 Americans would lose their appetite if they saw someone bring their pet into a restaurant. A quarter of all Americans would take flight if they saw one on an airplane. Fifteen percent wouldn't be caught dead including a pet in their will and 13 percent would let sleeping dogs (and cats) lie... on the floor.
Thirty-one percent of Americans think that the worst thing to subject their pet to would be a custody battle. Next in order is a pet wedding (28 percent), a pet therapy session (16 percent), a pet portrait (six percent) and a pet whisperer (six percent). These things may seem a little nutty if you belong to the non pet-owning set. And to the folks who are planning a pet wedding, you may want to schedule a pet owner therapy session too.
What's the best reason to not get a pet? Twenty-eight percent said they are too expensive, 27 percent said they make it difficult to go on vacation, 20 percent don't like cleaning up after them and 18 percent dread the fact that they eventually die. Pet owners know that the enjoyment and affection that they experience has a cost which includes spending money, clean up time and ultimately a grieving time. They must think the positives outweigh the negatives.
Did you know that you may be defined by the type of pet you own? Thirty-seven percent of Americans said they might think twice about people who own snakes. People who own rats or spiders got thought twice about 24 percent each. Owners of chinchillas (five percent), cats (four percent) and hamsters (one percent) got less pet scrutiny. It may seem ironic to many Americans that these folks spend time and money to keep these creatures in their homes when a good amount of people around the country are spending time and money trying to get these same creatures out of their homes. Only in America.
How many cats is too many cats? One out of four Americans think that even one cat is one too many. Another quarter think the tipping point is three cats. Seventeen percent said two cats and another 17 percent said five is too big a hand full. Eleven percent said 10 is enough and a crazy cat-loving five percent said you can never have too many kitties.
Half of all Americans would flush their pet fish and 44 percent would choose to bury theirs. A fish makes a nice pet, pretty to look at and not a lot of hassle to own. They deserve a nice send off and more Americans think a burial "at sea" is a little more of a fitting way to go.
Even though Lassie's adventures started more than 70 years ago on the silver screen, 4 out of 10 Americans would still love to own the beloved collie known for saving the day whenever there is trouble. Next up is Charlie Brown's cool and mischievous beagle Snoopy with 26 percent followed by Brian Griffin (14 percent) the aspiring writer dog from Family Guy, Toto (10 percent) the little dog with the big heart who helps Dorothy in Oz and only two percent would chose Triumph the Insult Dog. Most of them being Conan O'Brien's writing team.
This month's fantasy question is fun, what if your favorite pet could suddenly talk? Would you keep it? Hell yeah said 87 percent of the people while only 11 percent would get rid of it. Characters like Mr. Ed and Francis the Talking Mule never go out of date because they are flat-out funny. A sarcastic and worldly animal cracking wise and telling the humans what's what. Now if we could only get one of those to talk some sense to our friends in Washington....
This poll was conducted by telephone from September 11-15, 2013 among 1,006 adults nationwide. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus 3 percentage points. The error for other subgroups may be higher. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish.
This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls. Read more about this poll.