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Loving pets more than partners
Survey among pet owners reveals loyalties

A survey has found that more than a third of British people "sometimes" love their pet more than their partner.

While 35 per cent said their pet only trumps their partner some of the time, 19 per cent said they love their pet more than their partner always.

Women were found to be more soft on their pets and 38 per cent of the owners surveyed admitted that they spend more time with their pet than anyone else in their life.

The survey also revealed that pet insurance is more important than life insurance to owners, with 56 per cent having insured their four-legged friend, compared with just half that had taken out life insurance.

Furthermore, men and women alike responded that they have included a pet or animal charity in their will.

The most commonly-owned pet is dogs, according to the survey, with 58 per cent – closely followed by cats, with 42 per cent.

Fish came third, accounting for 15 per cent of pets, and reptiles are now more popular than birds with four per cent and three per cent respectively.

The survey, conducted by DiscountVouchers.co.uk, finally found that British pet owners will spend up to £50 a month on their furry, feathered and scaly friends.

"It's no surprise that Britain remains a nation of pet lovers, but it's interesting to see how committed to our pets we've become," said the website's CEO, Gareth Robinson.

"What does surprise me is that people are more likely to have pet insurance than they are to have life insurance. Clearly the wellbeing of the nation's pets is a high priority."

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Voting opens for BEVA Council

News Story 1
 Eligible members of BEVA will be able to vote for their Council team until Monday, 17 August 2026. Members will have received an election email on 17 July.

There are five candidates standing for four available places on Council. They are:

  • Alexandre Triguino
  • Angela Jones
  • Beth Bryant
  • Holly Rees
  • Hugh Somerville
Full profiles for each candidate can be found on the BEVA website

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Milk recalled over presence of veterinary medicines

Graham's Family Dairy has issued a recall for its semi-skimmed milk due to the presence of veterinary medicines in the product.

In a risk statement, the Food Standards Agency said the presence of the medicines, including penicillin, make the milk unsafe to consume and 'may be a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to antibiotics'.

Customers who bought the product are advised to return it to the store of purchase for a full refund.