Unhappy couples are staying in relationships because of their shared pets
Would YOU stay in a miserable relationship just so your pooch doesn't come from a broken home?
THERE are certain markers in your relationship that signal increasing commitment; the moment you swap keys, the day you move in together, the first time you say I love you.
But some couples add in an additional stage and get themselves a beautiful little pet to parent together - more permanent than a flat rental, less binding than a baby.
But what happens when that relationship hits a bump in the road?
Dogs can live for 15 years and everyone knows cats are indestructible. Heaven forbid you bought a tortoise...
So what do you do when you're ready to leave but don't want to ditch the first pet you've ever actually picked up after?
Well according to a recent study by MORE TH>N pet insurance, people are sticking around in miserable relationships just to make sure their pet doesn't become part of a broken home.
The poll showed that make couples can't decide who would get custody of little Rover and they can't stand the idea of handing them over for adoption.
The study also revealed that 14% of pets reportedly require medication after a break-up.
Only 11% of the couples in the survey who had broken up said they would fight harder for custody of a pet than their possessions.
John Ellenger, head of pet insurance at MORE TH>N, said: "It is true that our beloved pets have never played a more important role in our day-to-day lives.
"As our study reveals, a number of pet owners will remain in a relationship with a partner in order to prevent their shared pet from experiencing any negative effects from a breakup.
"It is a testament to the lengths we’ll go to protect our pets’ emotional wellbeing – even if it means making sacrifices to our own."
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