Majority of Americans Own Pets, Poll Finds

More people in the U.S. own pets than don't … and we love our furry, finned and feathered family members with a passion!

10 Truths About Dogs

1. It is estimated 1 million U.S. dogs are named as the primary beneficiaries in their owner's will.
2. All dogs across all breeds are descendants of wolves; dogs and wolves are technically the same species.
3. Many canine foot disorders are the result of untrimmed nails.
4. Dogs can find the source of a noise in 6/100ths of a second. They use the swiveling motion of their ears like radar dishes.
5. Dogs have three eyelids – the upper lid, the lower lid, and a third lid called a nictitating membrane (also known as a 'haw') that helps keep the eye moist and provides protection.
6. The oldest dog on record was an Australian cattle dog, Bluey. Bluey lived over 29 years.
7. The grief suffered when a pet dog dies is often the same intensity of grief felt when a human friend or family member dies.
8. There are over 700 types of purebred dogs.
9. Dogs do not have an appendix.
10. Dogs' keen sense of smell allows them to locate dead bodies under water, termites, natural gas buried deep in the earth and even human cancers.

10 Truths About Cats

1. Most behaviors of pet cats have a parallel in the wild.
2. Cats lose almost as much bodily fluid in the saliva they deposit while grooming as they do through urination.
3. Only mother cats can safely pick up kittens by the scruff of the neck; humans shouldn't attempt this with either kittens or cats.
4. Domestic cats, regardless of breed, all belong to a single species: Felis catus.
5. Pure white cats with blue eyes are often deaf.
6. Cats spend about 30 percent of the hours they are awake in grooming activities.
7. There are about 100 different breeds of the domestic cat.
8. Cats walk on their toes, and when they walk or run they move both left legs, then both right legs.
9. Kitties don't taste sweet flavors.
10. The more often a kitty is spoken to, the more she'll speak to her owner.