According to a joint global poll by Reuters/Ipsos, one-fifth of adults would prefer to be with their pet rather than spending Valentine’s Day with their partner although the French still came top for romance.

Some 21 percent of adults would rather spend February 14 with their pet than their spouse although the French were least likely to choose a furry friend over a human with only 10 percent taking that option, according to the results of the survey that polled 24,000 people in 23 countries.

But the survey found that age and income were more of a determining factor than nationality when it came to romance, with younger, less affluent people more likely to choose their pet as their Valentine’s Day companion.

Around 25 percent of people aged under 35 opted for their pet over their partner compared to 18 percent of those aged 35-54 and 14 percent of people aged 55 plus, said Ipsos senior vice president John Wright.

(article source: MoneyControl.com, photo source: The Straits Times)