Puppy love: Owners set to spend £41m on their pet Valentines

Tuesday, 14 February 2012 10:04 AM

Pet owners intend to splash the cash this Valentine’s Day on treats for their furry friends to the tune of £41 million, new research reveals.

According to figures from The Co-operative, owners plan to spend an average of £15.82 on presents each pet, with the most popular presents flowers, food and chocolates.

Clothes and accessories such as a shiny new collar or comfy bed are also high on the list for February 14 gifts, the poll shows.

Pets in Yorkshire and the Humber look to gain the most on Valentine’s Day with a typical spend of £30.50 – but animals in Wales are set to be unlucky in love with only £9 being spent on them, the lowest amount in Britain.

In comparison, people are intending to spend on average £26.91 on their human partner this Valentine’s Day.

Lee Mooney, head of pet insurance at The Co-operative, said: “We would urge pet owners who are buying their pets presents to think carefully about what they buy.

“Flowers can cause allergies and be harmful to pets if they are eaten, as can chocolate, which can prove fatal to some animals.”

More than 1,000 pet owners were polled.

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