1. The Context What are pets anyway? Pets have always been around The ancient purposes of...

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Why Do Americans Keep Pets?

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The Context What are pets anyway? Pets have always been around The ancient purposes of keeping pets

The modern purposes of keeping pets

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Why Do Americans Keep Pets? Poll: 1 in 3 women say pets listen better

than husbands -USATODAY

Dogs and cats are better than kids because they:1.Eat less.2.Don't ask for money all the time.3.Don't need a 'gazillion' dollars for college.4.Don't have to get a baby sitter when you go out. 5.You don't have to spend hundreds of dollars for Christmas and birthdays. -petplace.com

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Total U.S. Pet Industry Expenditure in Billions

http://www.americanpetproducts.org/press_industrytrends.asp

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First Study Participants Demographics : A random sample of

faculty Age: 50.2 (average) Gender: 95 Women, 207 Men Marital Status: Typically Married Dwelling: Metropolitan and its suburbs Only a few from rural areas (Utilitarian

purposes)

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Why Do Americans Keep Pets?The Poll Questions:

Do you view pets as a valuable piece of property? Do you think pets should serve a useful function? Would you be lonely without a pet? Does your pet help you get through hard times? Does you pet help you meet other people? Does you pet keep you active? Have you ever had to keep a pet for others? (Poll Manager).

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Results 11% have never owned a pet 56% were current pet owners Women cats more often than men NO significant correlations with health,

happiness or quality of work life Most people believe that pets benefit

health and well being

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The Gender Effect: Women are more likely to keep pets for

social support (getting through hard times, or would be lonely without them)

Men are more likely to keep pets for pragmatic reasons (keeping active, they serve a useful function, and/or keeping the pet for others)

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Method

Participants 241 college students, average age 20.12▪ Women 146, Men 88

102 community members, average age 48.86▪ Women 60, Men 40

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Results

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Bark ? [Translated: “Questions?”]

1. The Context What are pets anyway? Pets have always been around The ancient purposes of...

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