Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1153841
13 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 11 AUGUST 2019 MALTATODAY SURVEY lovers No time for pets LACK of time to care for pets is the main reason why some people have no animals at home, the MaltaTo- day survey found. There are 45.1% of people who do not have a pet at home and 56.1% of these insist they have no time for them. This reason is more prevalent among men with 62.6% saying they have no time for pets, as opposed to 49.9% of women. The survey found that the second most important reason (23.3%) why people do not keep pets at home is lack of space. Within this category, women outnumber men. The findings show that 27.4% of women and 18.9% of men do not have a pet because they do not have place where to keep them. But not everyone loves animals. The survey found that 17% of people either have no interest in animals or simply do not like them. Others do not keep pets for medi- cal reasons. The survey shows that 3.7% of people claim they do not keep pets because they are allergic to animals. Methodology The survey was carried out be- tween Monday 29 July and Friday 2 August. 549 respondents opted to complete the survey. Stratified random sampling based on gender, region and age was used to replicate the Maltese demographics. The es- timated margin of error is 5% for a confidence interval of 95%. ingness to cremate pets is highest among pet owners in the Northern and South- ern harbour, and the South- Eastern regions. There is a slight m a j o r - ity (37.6%) unwilling to pay for crema- tion in the Western region, as opposed to 36.7% who will consider cremation for their pet. From where did the pet come? Only 14.2% of people have adopted their pet from an animal sanctuary, with a majority buying theirs from a pet shop or a specialised breeder. H o w e v - er, 18.7% c l a i m to have picked their pet from the street, effec- tively adopting a stray animal. The majority bought their ani- mal from a pet shop (22.7%) or from a specialised breed- er (21.4%). I n t e r e s t i n g l y , 23% of people got their pet for free from a friend or family member. The younger age groups un- til 50 are more likely to have bought their pet from a shop or a specialised breed- er, however, elderly people are more likely to get their pet for free from a friend or family member. Adoption from animal sanctuaries is most popular among those aged between 36 and 50 (18.1%), and least popular among those aged 65+ (10.8%). However, those aged be- tween 51 and 65, and 65+, are more likely to have adopted strays from the street with 21.4% and 21.3% respectively, saying they found their pet outside. My pet, my child It is not uncommon to hear a pet owner say that the ani- mal is like a family member and this sentiment is proven true by the MaltaToday sur- vey. When asked whether they agreed with the statement that their pet is like a son or daughter to them, 83.6% said Yes. The overwhelming agree- ment cuts across both gen- ders, all age groups, and all regions. Only 13.4% do not con- sider their pet like a child, while 3% were unable to an- swer. Secondary Tertiary Gozo Northern Northern Harbour South Eastern Southern Harbour Western 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 41.0% 31.5% 27.5% 60.8% 27.0% 12.2% 39.3% 32.6% 28.1% 31.3% 25.4% 43.3% 55.2% 31.2% 13.7% 50.1% 32.4% 17.5% 50.7% 32.5% 16.8% 36.7% 37.6% 25.7% Do you agree with this statement? My pet is like a son/daughter Grand Total M F 18-35 36-50 51-65 65+ Primary Post-Sec Secondary Tertiary Gozo Northern Northern Harbour South Eastern Southern Harbour Western 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 83.6% 13.3% 83.3% 15.2% 83.9% 11.5% 83.8% 12.9% 82.8% 13.1% 83.4% 15.1% 85.1% 11.4% 85.0% 13.0% 82.4% 8.8% 8.8% 83.0% 14.3% 84.7% 14.0% 81.4% 18.6% 70.3% 19.6% 10.2% 84.1% 13.1% 87.6% 9.9% 96.3% 77.5% 20.5% Yes No Don't know Why don't you have a pet? Grand Total M F 18-35 7.9% 56.1% 23.3% 9.1% 6.3% 62.6% 18.9% 9.4% 9.5% 49.9% 27.4% 8.7% 9.5% 63.0% 18.7% Animals don't interest me I am allergic to animals I don't have time for them I don't have where to keep them I don't like animals Do you agree with this statement: my pet is like my son/daughter All Male Female Birds 22.4% 24.4% 20.4% Cats 25.4% 21.4% 29.4% Dogs 39.5% 42.8% 36.2% Fish/Turtles 6.4% 6.6% 6.3% Hamsters/Mice 0.9% 1.2% 0.6% Rabbits 5.0% 3.6% 6.5% Reptiles (snakes/iguana) 0.3% 0.0% 0.6% Birds, cats and dogs most popular pets to have at home their pet for free from a friend or The younger age groups un- til 50 are more likely to have bought their pet from a