A third of British cat and dog owners never wash their pet, according to new research.
The survey also found that a quarter of owners don’t regularly wash their pet’s food and water bowls.
Nearly one in five (18 percent) of owners are happy to let their pet scoff food from family plates while over a third (32 percent) frequently find themselves picking animal hairs out of their meal.
The findings, by Animalfriends.co.uk, also showed that nearly half of Brits (46 percent) are happy to regularly kip with their pet.
Despite highly publicised concerns over the dangers that pet bugs can pose to humans, many pet lovers are not taking basic steps to protect themselves, as 30 percent of owners only wash their pet’s bed or basket once a fortnight.
The pet owners least likely to clean their furry friends are in Chelmsford, where a whopping 46 percent don’t ever wash their pets and 12 percent claim they’ve been told their house “smells of dog”, according to the survey.
Westley Pearson, managing director from Animalfriends.co.uk said: “Many people will only remember to wash their pet’s bedding if it’s visibly dirty or smells, however as pointed out in our survey, many pet owners get used to the smell of their animals.
“It’s advisable to wash your pet’s beds as often as you change your own bedding.
“As for your pet’s food bowls, these should be washed daily to keep the germs at bay to protect both you and your pet. You wouldn’t eat your dinner on a dirty plate, so why should your dog?”
