Thinking about a pet ownership? When it comes to maintenance, which is the better choice for you?
I surveyed members of the Darien High School community and responses varied.
Based on DHS, the majority of teachers and students have a liking towards dogs more than cats, which can be an essential factor for how pet owners may feel about their care. Ayetima states that Australia, UK, and the United States, are all considered “Dog countries”. I’m sure many friends, and family members you know have at least one dog. Dogs need more maintenance than cats, but people find them to be more “loving” than cats, therefore worth the care.
If we want to compare the work you have to put into a cat or dog, we should consider how they may behave with their owners first. Half the number of Darien High School teachers and students say that they believe both require a sense of attention and have their own independence. One student member states that “2 out of the 3” of their cats are independent, and that both of their dogs are clingy. Another student states “My dogs are very clingy but my cat is very independent.”
It seems as though there is a variety of responses among students and teachers at Darien. How a dog or cat may act is also very dependent on their environment. There can be a lot of enjoyments and benefits to having a cat or dog. One student states that their dog helps with their “anxiety and stress” because she “helps me calm down.” In addition, you may hear people say their pet is like their “best friend” because of the comfort they give them.
Looking at the Darien High School survey results, and another article by Canine Corner, both showcase results that Dogs must be trained, played with, and taken often to the vet, to which 155 people responded, including 68.4% of students, and 31.6% of teachers. This means the maintenance will go up. A teacher mentions that their chocolate lab has “always been very active and very affectionate.” This is also important because it begs the question, how much is an owner willing to financially and emotionally spend to keep their dog healthy?
On average, the value of a dog is $10,689, which is considerably more pricey than a cat, which can be valued at $5,174 annualy. “This new European study used a variant of the same question, and for all three nations surveyed, it was confirmed that dog owners were willing to spend more money on veterinary care for their pets than were cat owners.(Corner)”
The DHS survey states that 44.4% of respondents like both cats and dogs, but 60% own a dog. This data tells us that although nearly half of the respondents like both cats and dogs, it because clear that people would still choose a dog over a cat. A possible reason for this choice are the many types of dog breeds that are hypoallergenic and have hair rather than fur.
One student’s comments reveal another answer: their dog is “EXTREMELY loyal to my mom. She doesn’t bite, only scratches accidentally.” The student’s mom even says that, “I want a dog that will go running with me. More of a buddy, a companion that can move through the world with you, more than being your buddy just in your house.”
Ultimately, based on the data, we can conclude that dogs are harder to maintain because they require more attention, exercise, and training, but are still preferred over cats because of their loyal and loving nature.
