Recession having an impact on consumer spending for pet care, survey finds

NATIONAL REPORT — Most pet owners (85 percent) are not cutting back on pet spending despite the recession, according to a new poll from the Associated Press and Petside.com

What's the bad news? Of the 15 percent who say they are cutting back on pet care, nearly half are deferring routine visits to veterinarians. One in five say they are putting off veterinary visits for serious problems, while one in four say they are considering relinquishing a pet because of financial difficulties.

The poll sought to measure pet-owner sentiments about the recession and the human-animal bond.

OTHER FINDINGS:

• 67 percent say they can comprehend their pet's "language."

• 62 percent think their pet understands what they are saying.

• 48 percent of dog owners planned to buy presents for their pets this holiday.

• 28 percent of cat owners were ready to splurge on gifts for their cats.

The AP-Petside.com Poll was conducted by GfK Public Affairs & Media in early December. It included responses from 1,129 randomly chosen pet owners.