Did you know that there is an entire day devoted to celebrating dog moms? That’s right, Dog Mom’s Day is recognized annually on the second Saturday of May (right before Mother’s Day) and celebrates all the love and care that dog moms offer their pets. Rover surveyed 500 U.S. women with dogs to find out how dog moms across the country will be celebrating their status this year and how they feel about their beloved pets during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Year Of the Pandemic Pet
The pandemic pet adoption boom is real. More than half of the women surveyed (54%) are celebrating Dog Mom’s Day for the first time ever as a pet parent and 57% welcomed a new dog into the family in the past year.
Quarantining and stay-at-home orders have also fostered a stronger relationship with their dogs. Seventy percent say that they now feel more attached and connected with their dog than in pre-pandemic times and 71% say their family group, with their dogs at the center, is even closer.
However, it hasn’t been easy. The anxiety of the pandemic extends to the world of pet parenting as well. Nearly half of dog moms (48%) reported that the pandemic raised their level of parental concerns about the health and well-being of their dog.
More Than Just Dog Owners
For these moms, having a dog isn’t just about owning a pet—it’s about adding to their families. The majority of these pet parents (78%) consider themselves to be dog moms, not just dog owners, meaning there’s a true familial bond between dog moms and their pups. More than 75% affectionately refer to their dogs as their fur baby, son or daughter, kid, child, baby, or other term of endearment. When asked who they’d rather spend time with on Mother’s Day weekend, 40% said they’d like to be with their dog more than anyone else.
We Love Our Pets
For many dog moms (39%), welcoming a dog into the family was a nice idea after deciding to delay having a human child. Nearly half (46%) decided to get a dog before adding a child into the mix. Many say their pet parent experience has prepared them with valuable parenting skills that they either use with their child (42%) or plan to use when they have a child one day (23%).
Dog Moms Get Gifts Too
Nearly a third of dog moms say they have received gifts from their dog for Dog Mom’s Day or Mother’s Day, and 40% said they haven’t but would love to be showered with presents by their dog. (Or perhaps a nice card!)
In celebration of dog moms everywhere, Rover has curated a collection of ‘Dog Mom‘ apparel, including t-shirts and hats to rep your dog mom status as well as accessories such as a tote to bring to the dog park. You can even show your breed-specific pride.
Methodology: Rover survey of 500 women who currently own a dog via Pollfish in May 2021.
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