Pets. Just saying the word elicits glee from their “owners.” If you want to start a lengthy conversation with someone you don’t know, ask them about their pet. Not unlike a person discussing their newborn, pet owners can be obsessive about the object of their affection. This is particularly true of LGBT pet owners.
Anyone familiar with the LGBT community can see that many have an extraordinary relationship with their dog, cat, llama, snake, turtle or Komodo dragon. And statistics support that LGBT people are more likely to be pet owners versus the broader community.
In an online survey by Harris Interactive, a global research firm, and Witeck-Combs, a global research and marketing firm specializing in the LGBT market, seven out of ten LGBT survey respondents were pet owners with only six out of ten straight survey respondents indicating they were pet owners. While this may seem like a small difference on the surface, it is really quite a big difference.
“Americans have well deserved reputations as animal lovers and pet owners, and our latest findings underscore that GLBT Americans are among the most avid,” said Wesley Combs, President of Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc. to GayMatters.net He continued “Smart marketers will recognize that gay households truly are trendsetters in animal ownership and loving care.”
What causes LGBT people to want to be pet owners more than the general populace? Some believe pets may be our substitute for children. Of course, now with LGBT people having a myriad of ways to have children if that is their desire, the substitute for children explanation doesn’t hold water.
The reality is all people own pets for a host of reasons. For some, it is the unconditional love that a pet provides. You can be having a bad hair day, feeling fat or just in a lousy mood; your pet will still love you and be happy to see you return home. Your pet loves you just as you are.
Unconditional love also provides a sense of security. Your relationship with your pet will never change because they will love you until death do you part. That kind of security is comforting and is on display everyday because of Fido or Tabby.
Pets provide people with the joy of taking care of a living thing other than themselves. Watching your pet grow and enjoying the activities you share is satisfying. You know you are making a difference in your pet’s life, particularly if you have adopted a shelter animal.
We also know that pets also provide health benefits to us. Studies have shown that pets can elevate our mood. AIDS patients with pets have been proven to be less depressed than those who are not pet owners.
Of course, dogs provide an exercise outlet. Walking Lady every morning and night increases the amount of calories you burn each day. My sister-in-law lost ten pounds when she got her Rottweiler. Exercise is proven to reduce stress, so your dog not only elevates your mood it provides stress reduction.
There are also studies that indicate your pet may help control your blood pressure, even more than traditional medications. Finally, we all know that walking a dog can lead to interactions with beautiful strangers. A dog makes you more approachable and is a source of conversation. One of my friends used to walk his dog so much in a local park, that the dog finally refused the fifth long walk of the day. Even Fido has his limits.
The LGBT community is almost twice as likely to own a non-traditional pet as the general population. Snakes, rabbits, lizards and ostriches all fall in this category, as well as the more traditional horses and pigs. Our love of animals is clear. So, San Diego LGBT Weekly wanted to honor the pet lovers amongst us.
“We’ve talked about adopting a child, so we decided it would be safer to test our parenting skills on a puppy first. Driving the four and half hour round trip to adopt her was the easy part. Life is different now. It used to be just Kyle and me; now there’s Bailey. She’s the organizing principle behind all the plans for our day/week. So far, I think cleaning up poop, trying to understand why she won’t eat, waking up to cries for attention and teaching her not to trust strangers are pretty worthwhile skills to develop for the future father in me. I think Bailey will help us be better people. Heck, she’s already helped us meet neighbors in the park and gave our old friends a reason to come over more often. For now I’m content to have her company (that is when she’ll sit still and stop biting my lips) and I remain in awe that a puppy could affect so much change in a person.” — Brandon Tate
I love Heidi, she is an Italian Greyhound rescue I adopted almost 10 years ago. Now at 16, Heidi isn’t as “svelt” as most would picture the usual lanky, lean and skittish Italian Greyhound. But, I feel that Heidi, who’s been through quite a bit, from the tracks of Tijuana to multiple foster homes where she was beaten, water tortured, starved and neglected, can now be as “fat & happy” as she wants to be, as long as she’s comfortable and healthy. Heidi’s a wonderful, affectionate, attention-loving companion; something, that took years of unconditional love to bring out of her. A voluptuous, full-figured gal, Heidi may be finicky when it comes to the food bowl, but almost never turns down a treat, and knows exactly the face to make in order to get what she wants. — Aaron Heier
My dog of 17 years is loved because she loves me no matter what. She looks at me with those big eyes with love, but she also has enough attitude to make me laugh. — Matt Ramon
MOMO is a very active and loving cat. She is usually found playing fetch with her stick or sleeping on my lap. Scared of most everyone she meets, we bonded instantly the day I adopted her. She has grown into a very loving companion. — Michael Stewart
These are my two “rescue” Malteses, Zoe and Luke. They are little pups with BIG personalities. Zoe is the friendliest loud mouth ever and Luke is four pounds of fur with a loud bark and just a little bite. Even though I threaten to take them to the pound at least once a week, I love my little brats. — Lisa Mata
These are my pupsters – Tallulah on the left and Lucille on the right. Tallulah is a Shitsu/Poodle mix who was named after Tallulah Bankhead, an actress of yesteryear, who famously drawled “Mah daddy warned me ‘bout men and liquor, but he nevah said a word ‘bout wimen and cocaine.”
Lucille is a Miniature Schnauzer. She is named for the memorable line in Cool Hand Luke when Dragline breathlessly calls an unknown, but outstandingly buxom blonde, Lucille. When asked why he called her Lucille – he responds “Anything what looks dat good, jes got to be named Lucille.” — Linda Perine
Jaxson, a Kerry Blue Terrier has been an incredible pet for over 8 years. He is loyal and loving, smart and protective. He is my true bodyguard and affectionate sidekick. Literally wherever I go, he follows. Jaxson has been my mirror and has taught me acceptance and how to love. — Rick Capatanio
