Human version of pets would make for dreamy dates: Study

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Man’s best friend … or more?

When single people seeking a partner say they prioritize love, loyalty and compatibility, perhaps they’ve set the bar too high.

A new study from MetLife Pet Insurance, inspired by a viral TikTok trend in which pet parents took to AI to turn their dogs into humans, uncovered just how much pet owners adore their animals.

It sounds a little odd but it also highlighted just how much furry friends factor into their owners’ relationships.

MetLife asked 1,000 people about how deeply their pets influence their lives and many are very invested in their animals.

Of the respondents familiar with the TikTok trend, 31% confessed that they would date the human version of their pet.

Millennials were most likely to do so with 34% admitting they would, though Gen X and baby boomers were right behind at 33%.

Gen Z was least likely at 24%.

It wasn’t (theoretical) romance for all pet owners, however.

Nearly 40% of animal enthusiasts admitted that their pet would be a “walking red flag” if they were human.

That said, perhaps the bar has been set low with more than three-quarters of respondents (77%) admitting their pet provides them better emotional support than an ex-partner.

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However, if it was merely a friendship with an AI version of their pet, respondents were on board.

A whopping 88% of those surveyed believed they would get along with their pet as a human, with 45% saying they would be friends and 43% expecting some occasional fights.

In fact, 38% said they rely on their pet more than any human relationship — no pressure, pets!

Some pet parents are more than a little attached to their furry friends.

Two-thirds of pet owners revealed they put their pet’s needs, such as vet visits and comfort, before their own wants.

Gen Z was particularly committed to their furballs, with 75% saying their pet is the priority, compared to 66% of millennials and 61% of Gen X and baby boomers.

Some pet owners admitted to spending an average of $180 a month on their pets, with Gen Z dishing out the most at $200, followed by millennials ($185) and Gen X and baby boomers ($160).