Contact Information: CONTACT: Merilee Kern 858-577-0206
Survey Reveals Majority of Pet Owners Consider Kennel Boarding a 'Necessary Evil'
Americans Rate In-Home Pet Care as Top Dog, Survey Finds
| Source: FETCH! Pet Care
BERKELEY, CA--(Marketwire - October 30, 2007) - With two-thirds (about 71.1 million) of
American households owning one or more pets and with holiday travel
planning well underway, millions of pet owners throughout the U.S. are now
considering care options for their four-legged family members. Among the
many available animal care services, in-home pet sitting is the unequivocal
service "top dog." This according to a recent survey conducted by FETCH!
Pet Care (www.fetchpetcare.com), America's first, only and most
sophisticated pet care franchise, in which a whopping 82.12% of respondents
selected "in home pet sitting at the pet's residence" as "the most
convenient, healthful and nurturing method of pet care" among other
options: "in-home pet sitting at sitter's residence" (12.74%), "group day
care" (4.87%) and kennel boarding (0.27%). With kennel boarding garnering
less than 1% consumer confidence on this point, it's no surprise that more
than three-quarters of respondents (75.93%) "consider or think others might
consider kennel boarding a pet as a 'necessary evil.'"
Why do pet owners regard kennel boarding pets in this harsh manner? More
than a quarter of respondents (32.54%) indicated they've had a "bad
experience" with kennel boarding a pet, with a shocking 12.38% indicating
they have had a bad experience "more than once."
Almost half of respondents (49.64%) indicated their "biggest concern about
kennel boarding" was that "it puts my pet's emotional health at risk,
including depression, separation anxiety, and stress from alpha dogs."
Amid reports regarding the highly contagious and potentially deadly strains
of canine influenza and Parvo disease -- not to mention the pervasive
kennel cough virus -- it's understandable that nearly one-fifth (19.86%) of
respondents indicated their biggest kennel boarding concern was because "it
puts my pet's physical health at risk due to transmittable airborne
diseases." The negative implications of kennel boarding are apparently not
just for animals, as almost one-quarter of respondents (24.64%) concede
that "it makes me feel guilty and anxious knowing my pet is in a kennel."
When asked if they will "kennel board their pet in the future," a revealing
39.08% of respondents indicated "definitely no," while 37.03% indicated "I
hope not," and 19.01% offered a reluctant "probably, if I have no other
choice."
Kennel boarding is not the only pet care concern uncovered by the survey. A
full 27.64% of respondents indicated they have had a neighbor or
neighborhood child take care of their pet but "prefer not to," with 1.24%
even indicating they "deeply regret it." Almost one-fifth of respondents
(19.84%) indicate they will "never" have a neighbor or neighborhood child
take care of their pet.
Just why is in-home pet care the clear-cut preference among survey
respondents? Nearly three-fourths (74.65%) indicated the "greatest benefit
of at-home pet care" is that the "pet maintains daily routine in
comfortable and familiar surroundings." Other reasons included "pet
receives regular affection, attention and nurturing" (15.46%), "pet not
exposed to germs, viruses and diseases common to group care" (2.64%), "pet
receives regular exercise" (2.29%), "personalized care, medical needs and
otherwise" (2.29%), and "convenience" (2.20%).
By a landslide (64.91%), respondents felt "overnight sitting or daily
visits in the pet's home" was "the most valuable pet care service."
"Boarding and daycare in the sitter's home" (12.18%), "private and group
on-leash dog walks" (11.55%), "group off-leash dog adventures" (4.12%),
"pet taxiing to the groomer, vet and/or trainer" (0.72%), "yard pet waste
cleanup" (0.63%), and "miscellaneous home care (watering plants, taking in
mail, etc.)" (5.91%) made up the difference on this point.
When asked "how important do you feel it is for a pet care professional to
be professionally trained, screened, background checked, bonded and
insured?," an overwhelming 80.67% of respondents indicated "extremely -- I
won't entrust my pet otherwise."
Consumers and interested business affiliates can reach FETCH! Pet Care
through its Web site at www.FetchPetCare.com or via toll-free telephone at
1-866-FETCH-ME, where they simply enter their 5-digit zip code to be
quickly connected to the FETCH! Pet Care office nearest them.
Survey Methodology
Between October 19 - 29, 2007 1,133 pet owners were surveyed, with 55.83%
owning one or more dogs, 31.86% owning one or more cats and 12.31% owning
one or more other animals (fish, reptile/amphibian, farm animal or other).
About FETCH! Pet Care, Inc.
Founded in 2002 and with over 1,400 service areas across the United States,
FETCH! Pet Care is the pet sitting industry market leader -- the new face
of pet care in the 21st century. The company offers a humane alternative
to kennel boarding by providing loving, in-home overnight and/or daily care
to any kind of pet in the most professional and reliable manner possible.
FETCH! Pet Care's carefully selected, screened and trained pet sitters and
dog walkers, who are all pet owners themselves, have serviced over 10,000
clients this past year alone. The company has been featured in Small
Business Opportunities magazine's top 20 "Boom Businesses" to get into in
2007, named among Pet Product News International's "25 to Watch in 2007"
and included in Entrepreneur magazine's coveted Franchise 500 list in
January 2007 and in its "7 Hot Businesses That Can Make You Rich" feature
in September 2007. For franchise information or to find a location near
you, visit the company's Web site at www.FetchPetCare.com or call the
corporate office at 1-866-FETCHME.