C-suite executives have more in common than just their professional achievements. A Banfield Pet Hospital survey revealed that 93 percent of them grew up with a pet.
If the number seems remarkable, it is. The American Veterinary Medical Association’s new Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook showed that, comparatively speaking, just 59 percent of U.S. households cared for a pet at some point in 2016.
The executives gave pets partial credit for the development of leadership skills they now possess, including discipline, organization, and the ability to identify and anticipate business needs.
“At Banfield Pet Hospital, we’ve long recognized the special bond between people and their pets, as well as the positive impact pets have on our society,” company President Brian Garish said. “From the pet ownership lessons we learned as children, to the ways our four-legged friends currently help us evolve, connect with others and stay grounded, our latest research supports the notion we’ve had all along — that there may be a link between pets and their ability to help shape us as people.”
Among other findings:
- 83 percent of C-suite executives surveyed grew up with a dog. The AVMA report found dogs in 40 percent of U.S. households in 2016.
- 59 percent grew up with a cat.
- 37 percent grew up with other pets, such as birds, rabbits or rodents.
- 78 percent attributed their career success in part to owning a pet as a child.
More information about the survey is available at http://bit.ly/2QF8rU1.