What's that you say?

Who's a better listener? Your partner or your dog?

According to a survey by Purina, 31 percent of New Zealand female dog owners think their pets are better listeners than their partners.

Read the story in USA Today.

Two-hundred-fifty dog owners and 250 cat owners were interviewed.

The survey also found that nearly 50 percent of female cat owners share their problems with their pets.

Well, all I can say is Kate doesn't listen to me.

Dog = emotional support?

Do you miss your dog more than your mate when you are away?

Do you "share a look" or have meaningful conversations with your pooch?

An article from Reuters in the Montreal Gazette said you might not be alone.

Read the entire article here.

A third of Americans admit to pining for their pooches more than their partners when out of town. But maybe that's because nine out of ten of them feel their pet is more pleased to see them after a hard day at work and is even more likely to notice when they've had a bad day.

A survey commissioned by Pup-Peroni (the San Francisco treat?) asked over 1,000 U.S. dog owners how they feel about the the animal in their lives.

Many Americans turn to their four-legged friends for solace before friends and family. Nearly two thirds believe their dogs are more dependable than their closest comrades and over 70 percent would rather go for a walk with pooch when feeling uptight than hang out with their best buddy.

Over two thirds say they feel more guilty about leaving their dog behind when traveling than leaving friends or loved ones. A majority say their pooch makes them feel happy, loved and relaxed.

Kate used to be excited when I came home from work. Now I'm lucky if she looks up at me.

Still, I wouldn't trade her for anything.

Pets help owners cope

A survey of 400 Americans conducted by Catalyst Direct, a digital direct marketing firm based in Rochester, N.Y., found that pets help their owners deal with the tough economic climate.

Reported by UPI.com, the study said a majority "stated their pets' emotional support and non-judgmental attitude are key to helping them survive challenging times."

While 73 percent of those questioned said they were more worried about finances, 89 percent said their pets help them deal with stress, 83 percent said their pets provided a steadiness in an uncertain economy and 86 percent valued their pets' appreciation.

From Catalyst Direct:

When asked about spending cuts, pet owners stated that they would be willing to compromise on personal purchases before cutting back on purchases for their dogs and cats: 79% would reduce spending on vacations; 77% on clothing; 49% on certain personal/family food items; 41% Internet/cable and 41% on gas.

The company said its study was unique in that it looked specifically at benefits pets provide their owners in dealing with economy-related personal pressures.