31% of American pet owners say they would happily date human version of their pets: study
Following up on a TikTok trend of 'imagining your pet as a person,' a financial company, MetLife, surveyed 1000 US pet owners to comprehend how deep the relationship with their pet is. The questionnaire ranged from asking people if they would be romantically involved with the human version of their pet to giving up their dream apartment for the furry animals. And the results are surreal.
The results highlight that 31% of the pet owners said they would happily date the human version of their pets. Over 3 in 5 pet owners said they would love to prioritize their pets needs over their own. And 4 in 5 pets said they would happily refuse and reject someone who doesn’t like their pet. Additionally, 87% of pet owners said they would give up their dream apartment if the building were not pet-friendly. Though 2 in 5 affirm that if their pets turned humans, they would be “walking red flags”, and only 44% will relinquish an extra week of paid vacation for employer-paid emergency pet care.
The research was prompted by a TikTok trend that went viral all over social media. In April 2025, inspired by Ghibli art, people asked ChatGPT to turn their dogs into humans. The trend went viral, and people all over the world were found sharing images of their pets as humans. To understand the dynamics between Americans and their furry animals, MetLife examined the population and presented the results, which led to revelations, including romanticizing pets. The research said that owners who consented to be romantically involved with the human version of their pets were also the ones who rated them twice as dateable as compared to those who wouldn’t.
The need to form a deeper connection with pets also highlighted that 38% of the respondents rely more on their pets for emotional support as compared to the humans in their lives. Of these, most were Gen Z at 43%, who sought emotional support from their pets. Then baby boomers at 38% and millennials at 35%. Overall, 57% of pet owners said “I Love You” to their pets multiple times in a day, and 77% believed that their dog had a higher emotional quotient than their previous partner. Reports mentioned that the propensity of Americans to rely on their pets increased during COVID-19, when they were held up in close quarters, leading them to form a deep relationship.
The authors of this study mentioned, “The value of pets for their human caregivers appears to be very high, comparable to … meeting with friends and relatives regularly, or even with being married.” Certainly, people are working in connivance with the growing trend of DINKWAD- Dual income, no kids, with a dog. Further, Elsie, 44, a divorce attorney from New Jersey, said in an interview with The New York Post, “Instead of giving my husband, Alex, a kiss, I wake up and give [my dog] all my kisses.” In Elsie’s case, it's nothing personal as she loves her husband. But, the lifestyle has found a novel interest among Americans, and such studies only lend authenticity to the reports highlighting their increasing inclination towards the trend.