Australian Pet Census 2011 Commences on 1 September

    VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, September 27, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- With the 2011 Australian Bureau of Statistics Human Census having just recently taken place, Petplan will conduct the Australia's first ever Pet Census. Petplan is underwritten by Allianz Australia Insurance and is one of Australia's leading pet insurers.

The Census will give Australia's pet owners the opportunity to provide their responses to a range of questions about their pets which aim to evaluate what it is like to be a pet owner in Australia today. Incorporating information on health, finance, social and family, data from the Pet Census 2011 will provide important insights into the relationship between Australians and their pets.

Doug Ford, Managing Director of Petplan, said "at Petplan we feel that pets are such valuable and important members of our policyholders' families and our society in general and it is for this reason we have decided to undertake Pet Census 2011, Australia's first ever comprehensive pet census."

Pet Census 2011 seeks to explore four main areas relating to human-animal relationships, namely, health, finance, social relations and family life.

From 1 September 2011 through to 1 November 2011, the Pet Census 2011 survey will be available at www.petcensus.com.au

"Pet Census 2011 has been developed to try to give us a clearer picture of pet ownership in Australia. It is also steered towards adopting practices that promote positive pet welfare and generally encourage a successful and happy relationship between pet owners and their companion animals. While we know that Australians are a nation of animal lovers, Pet Census 2011 may demonstrates that pets play an even bigger part in making us more compassionate, happier, healthier and sociable," Mr Ford said.

Background

What is Pet Census 2011?

Pet Census 2011 has been developed to try to give Petplan a clearer picture of pet ownership in Australia. It is also steered towards adopting practices that promote positive pet welfare and generally encourage a successful and happy relationship between the owners and their companion animals.

Pet Census 2011 seeks to explore four main areas relating to human-animal relationship, namely health, finance, social relations and family life. Within the section of health, we test the health of the nation's pets and also owners' knowledge of what their pets should and shouldn't be doing or eating. We test owners' awareness of general health issues and the much publicised issue of pet obesity.

Within the section of finance, we explore the motivation owners have where purchasing a pet. For example, breed versus cost or re-homing centre versus breeder.

Within the section of social relations, we explore the more serious issues around pet ownership including how pets are being trained by owners and the social behaviour of pet owners and pets in the public and how this might affect other members of the public. We also explore the issue about leaving your pet home along which plays in to the wider issue of pets being neglected.

Within the section of family life, we explore the influence a pet has on our social life and how they can affect the relationships we hold for better or worse. We also explore how pets are valued within the family unit.

Media enquires and additional information on the Pet Census 2011.
Contact Us at 1300 738 225 or Email Us at [email protected].

Website: http://www.petcensus.com.au/

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