Survey: British miss pets more than family

CHESTER, England, May 26 (UPI) -- One-third of British pet owners said they would rather go away with their pet on vacation than their immediate family, a survey indicated.

British pet owners surveyed by travel comparison Web site TravelSupermarket indicated 47 percent miss their pet the most when away on holiday, while more than one-third said they have taken a pet on vacation.

Thirteen percent of Britons admitted they would choose their pet over their partner to go on vacation and 10 percent said they would opt to take their pet on vacation instead of their children -- if they had the opportunity.

When the British leave their family behind for foreign travels, 47 percent said they miss the pet most of all while they're away, while 33 percent said they missed immediate family members the most.

Forty-three percent said they gave their pet some extra tender loving care when they return home from a vacation and 18 percent made sure they brought back a souvenir for their furry friend.

Forty percent of pet owners also said they regularly checked up on their pet while away.

Opinium Research conducted the survey of 2,010 British pet owners from March 29 to April 3. No margin of error was provided.