It's not uncommon for pet owners to refer to each other as "mom" and "dad." And for good reason, many behave like parents with their four-legged companions. The phenomenon is such that 42% of Americans dread going back to the office because they will have to leave their furry friends home alone.
This startling statistic comes from a survey conducted for pet-sitting and walking app Wag! and reported by Mashable. More than 1,000 adults in the US who have adopted, purchased or received at least one dog as a gift in the past two years were asked about their relationship with man's best friend.