It's puppy love. No, really. On the eve of Valentine's Day, a new poll shows that some Britons are so enamoured with their fuzzy, furry, four-legged friends that it might be stopping them from human-on-human romance.
Of the 3, 000 pet owners surveyed, 80 per cent said they would not date someone who didn't like their pet. So if you're trying to woo someone with a dog, make sure to put in time petting and playing fetch.
Then again, it might not matter how much time you put in trying to prove you love that scruffy little fella: nearly 20 per cent said they would rather have an animal companion than a relationship.
Problem? It might be, with 12 per cent saying they felt owning a dog or cat was having a damaging effect on their relationship.
Some people seem to have very good reasons for being jealous of cats and dogs, because if you think they're getting all the attention, you just might be right: 36 per cent of all pet owners said they stroked their pets more than they touched their partners.
Dave McGinn