Although nearly 30 percent of pet owners have already ruled out giving their pets holiday gifts, Americans will average $23.30 on holiday gifts for their pets this year, according to a survey of 1,000 people conducted by Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn.
More than 40 percent definitely plan to buy pet gifts, with another 30 percent still checking their list to see if their pets had been naughty or nice.
About 11 percent of pet owners expected to spend less than $8 on their pet.
Overall, respondents expected to spend on average $970 on holiday gift-giving, although more than 60 percent planned to spend $600 or less.
As could be expected, those pet owners that reported being seriously impacted by rising gas prices were less able to spend lavishly on pets, expecting to average about $16.80 per pet. Pet owners less concerned with gas prices planned to spend $29.18 per pet.
The survey also identified differences in expected holiday gift giving based on party affiliation. Republicans expected to spend nearly twice as much on their pets gifts ($35.28) than Democrats ($18.48).
Similarly, pet owners that gave President Bush a favorable job rating expected to spend $28.45 on pet gifts, compared to $19.57 by pet owners less enamored with Bush.
The survey did not distinguish between dog and cat lovers.
Posted: Nov. 25, 2005, 3p.m. EST