RSPCA Victoria’s 2022 Pet Poll surveyed more than 12,000 Victorian pet owners to unveil the quirky relationships they have with their pets. However it seems that these quirks are more common than we might think, as Hannah Hammoud discovers.
Holly Johannessen lives in Craigieburn with her one-and-a-half-year-old dog, Sir Lexington. Whilst he might have a very fancy name, Holly assures that he is far from it.
“He is extremely playful and very social,” she says.
“He is also really friendly and very, very cuddly. But he is very scent driven and likes to roll around in gross stuff in the grass.”
Holly says that what others might think are quirky habits, is her version of normal, everyday life.
“I talk to Lexington a lot but because I’ve been living on my own, I’ve also noticed that I’ve started talking on his behalf to myself.”
An RSPCA poll revealed that Victorians love to celebrate their pets birthdays, with over 74 per cent of dog owners saving their pet’s birthday in their diaries and celebrating with treats and gifts.
Holly threw a kids-esque first birthday party for Sir Lexington as a way to say thank-you to the many people in her personal life who have helped her with Lexington.
“My sister made him a crazy dog cake. There were decorations and costumes and all of his dog best friends came over.”
Holly shares her bed every night with Lexington, she says that for many, including herself, pets are a source of unconditional love.
“They make you feel needed and wanted and loved.”
Tapping into community pride, the poll drew data from across the state with 584 Victorian postcodes represented.
Julie Hargood lives in Craigieburn with her four-legged family of three cats and two dogs, along with four fish and about 100 birds that she feeds each night.
“I put fruit out for the birds and I go through about 20 kilos of seed a week,” she says
Julie adopted both her dogs from a local rescue centre, and sheltered all three of her cats after finding them on the street.
“I love animals. I know this sounds awful, but I love animals more than people,” says Julie.
“I’ve got T-shirts and denim jackets with my pets’ faces on it, and I’ve also got earrings with them on there.
“The printer I go to, he’s actually printed out stickers so I can put them on my car as well.”
When asked about her quirky habits with her pets, Julie says that with no children of her own, her furry family have become her kids.
“I talk to my animals all the time, we talk about anything and everything. I tell them how much I love them and give them lots of kisses,” she says.
“We bought my 11-year-old dog named Panda a pram because we noticed when we were coming home from the park one day, that he was getting very tired and stopping all the time.”
Julie says while she doesn’t do any special birthday celebrations for her pets, they are spoiled with love each day.
“I suppose they have a birthday every day, they don’t need a special occasion for it”
Both Mia Son and Ruby Mcneill adopted rescue animals from Second Chance Animal Rescue in Epping.
Across the poll data, there was a strong consensus with 98.4 per cent of pet owners admitting to speaking to their pets every day, including Mia.
“I talk to my pets regularly. I think my oldest cat thought her name was ‘don’t’ for about five years because I would constantly be talking to her to tell her not to do something, or eat something she shouldn’t,” Mia says.
Mia says her cat Momo’s adoption profile describing her as the ‘devil’s spawn’ is what sealed the deal to bring Momo home and keep company with her other trouble-maker cat, Ozzie.
“She was literally described as a demon and I thought, good, my demon needs a friend.”
The RSPCA poll shared that 79.3 per cent of the combined respondents let their pets sleep in their bed. This is true for both Ruby and Mia who each have three pets at home and share a crowded bed with them.
Ruby says the double bed she shares with her partner has been taken over by her three cats.
“Leia the kitten will sleep pretty much on top of my face. Anna the ragdoll will sleep under the doona cuddled up next to me. And the last one, Minty, will sleep at the end of the bed.”
