BRITISH dog owners are set to spend a whopping £300m* on celebrating Valentine’s Day with the four-legged love of their life.
Pooch parents spend an average of £30 a piece on presents for their dog, rising to £71 in Northern Ireland, where purchases include a new doggy outfit to celebrate.
Butcher’s Nourishing Food For Dogs conducted the research to celebrate the launch of its new Healthy Heart product range, and these findings inspired the brand to celebrate dog owners’ love of showering their pets with gifts during this season of love by launching…a bespoke collection of Valentine’s cards designed for dogs.
The collection was created in partnership with pet art brand, Purr and Mutt, and TV star, Olivia Attwood. Each of the cards will be available to buy online for just £1, with every penny collected being donated to Butcher’s Nourish Every Dog programme.
The programme supports dog homes, shelters, and rescue charities nationwide. Since starting the #NourishEveryDog campaign just three years ago, over 2 million meals have been donated to over 250 charities.
The idea for cards was inspired by how much the country loves to display pooch pictures around the home; the average dog owning household has eight pictures of their dog on display, and 1 in 20 has a whopping 30.
A special extra card features Olivia’s rescue dog Lola, who was sat alongside the TV presenter and reality star at the design session.
Lola also received the first personalised tins of Butcher’s Healthy Heart. One personalised tin per dog name will be available to order for free via the brand’s website – so dog lovers can grab a great Valentine’s Day present that their pooch is sure to love.
Butcher’s Nourishing Food For Dogs research around British pet owners and Valentine’s Day also found that:
Men typically spend £8 more than women on dog Valentine’s celebrations – and more men than women describe their dog as their ‘baby’
Most of those surveyed would rather have a long walk with their dog than they would a minibreak with their partner
A third of those who enjoy a regular date night make sure their dog is included in their plans, with seven per cent of British couples even meeting via a dog walks!
Commenting on the partnership with Butcher’s, Olivia Attwood, said: “My dogs are absolutely the centre of my daily life, so it’s no surprise that pet owners are going wild in the aisles to celebrate the love they have for their dogs during the season of love. Creating a charity collection of Valentine’s Day cards, with my gorgeous Lola as one of the options you can buy, was so much fun and will help to support so many dogs in need.”
The research also found that a long and healthy life is the gift dog owners would most want for their animal companions, and that two thirds seek a food that actively supports their dog’s heart health.
Natasha Bryant, Senior Brand Manager for Butcher’s, said: “Just like us, it’s evident that food is love when it comes to our dogs. We had such fun creating this card collection and are proud that all funds collected will help dogs in need across Britain via our Nourish Every Dog charity partners – because every dog deserves naturally, nourishing food, a happy home and to be loved.
“Our consumer research found that 75 per cent of dog owners are worried about their pet’s health and that a fifth are actively worried every day. Luckily, it’s easier than ever to help maintain optimum health for our dogs thanks to the development of nutritious food ranges such as Butcher’s Healthy Heart.
“This February, it’s great to see that Brits aren’t just showing their love via fun things like treats, cards and personalised tins. Two thirds are already taking steps to ensure their dog’s heart is as healthy as possible.”
