Dog days in August? Sounds quite accurate

From the lazy pooch on the couch to the purring cat in the windowsill and all the feathers, scales and fur in-between, pets are an integral part of the modern household and are increasingly viewed as family members.

Folks without pets may wonder why critters come up so much, particularly in the media, and the answer is simple — the majority of Americans have pets and that makes it a relevant topic for discussion.

There were an estimated 77.8 million dogs and 85.6 million cats kept as pets in US households in 2015.

And those households accommodating the 163.4 million pet dogs and cats account for 60 percent of American homes, according to 2015-2016 data from the American Pet Products Association.

Suffice it to say, when something captures the interest, time and financial commitment of a majority of people, the result is news, and August has been no exception.

Wrapping up a busy month for pet info, here are some highlights in case you missed them:

n “NDD” — Saturday marked the 13th year since National Dog Day’s inception as a day to increase public understanding about the number of dogs in need of rescue and to celebrate the contributions made by family pets and working dogs.

If you missed it don’t fret, the sentiments of NDD are fit for any day of the year when it comes to celebrating your pup.

n Animal magnetism — 79 percent of women and 67 percent of men report that showing outward affection to a dog makes people more attractive, according to a survey of 3,000 Americans conducted by nationaltoday.com.

The survey results also revealed 39 percent of single women and 23 percent of single men would rather spend an evening with their dog than go on a date.

A further 86 percent of dog owners reported they love their pups because they comfort them and 71 percent said their dog reminds them to seek out more joy.

n Little ones need love too — To address small pets living in an estimated 12 million US homes, the newly devised Small Animal Standards of Care were announced Wednesday by the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council. The first of their kind, the standards were designed through the collaboration of pet industry leaders, animal experts, veterinarians and others, and detail the minimal care standards for reptiles, birds, caged rodents and other small creatures.

Covering housing, vet care, lighting and air quality, feed and nutrition, cleanliness and sanitation, biosecurity, transportation and human handling, the standards serve as a guide to improve the care breeders and distributors give to the smallest of pets.

n Open wallets — In a recent survey designed to see if pet insurance is a worthwhile investment, LendEDU asked how much people would be willing to spend to save their pet’s life. Dog owners are willing to spend an average of $10,725 and cat owners said they would fork out $3,454 to save their animal from a life-threatening health condition.

Overall, dog owners reported they spend an average of $2,033 and cat owners $1,042 on annual pet expenses.

If just one month of news is any indication, it seems clear — from the affection they give, comfort they derive and time and money invested to keep companion animals happy and healthy — pets are important to a lot of people.

Sharna Johnson is always searching for ponies. You can reach her at: [email protected]