16
Living
Q-NOTES • JULY 19 . 2003
The. Neuiest Hottest fldventure
in Nightlife
Thursday Nights:
1-2-3 night.
Cover $1 - Beer $2 - House Drinks $3:
91
DJ Outstreet mill be mixing the best
in House, Donee, Techno music*^B|
ond video. ^
* Saturday Nights:
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the nemest, best in House onthems.
Donee, Techno ond Trance using
digital vinyl & digital videoi^
* Coming Soon:
Mr. RnTattiiif
^ Strip Contest
Thursday, friday
Si Saturday
9:30 pm - 3:30 am
18 St Up with valid ID
703 Jonestouun Rood
LUinstof^Qlem, NC 27103
uiuuuj.qi^Sbnightlife.com
336-760-2233
Gays own more pets than
general population, online
census finds
One-fifth of respondents spend
between $300 and $432 a year on
pet products
by Jeff Garber
Be it cats, dogs, parrots, ferrets or gerbils,
pets hold an important place in the gay and les
bian community. Pet ownership is 10 percent
more common among gay respondents than in
the general population, a recent survey reveals.
With 8,831 respondents, the 2002-2003
Gay/Lesbian Consumer Online Census is the
largest and most comprehensive LGBT con
sumer study ever conducted. Prepared by
GLCensus Partners (Syracuse University and
OpusComm Group), the annual study fills
the growing need among manufacturers and
service providers for detailed information on
consumer behavior and preferences of the
LGBT community.
Pet ownership is one of several areas of
consumer interest examined by the census.
“Most gay people adopt a pet for the same
reason anyone does — it’s fun and makes
your life incomparably richer,” explains Amy
Falkner of Syracuse University, lead researcher
on the project. “Many people consider their
pets as important family members.”
Overall, 78.5 percent of respondents
reported keeping a pet. The census surveyed
owners of cats, dogs, birds, ferrets, fish, hors
es, rabbits, reptiles and rodents. Ownership
was higher in females than in males, with 86.9
percent of female respondents having a pet, as
opposed to 70.8 percent of male respondents.
Only 5.1 percent of respondents don’t own a
pet yet, but plan to within the next year.
The war between cats and dogs (and their
owners) rages on. According to the survey,
the winner is clear: cats rule and dogs drool.
More than 48 percent of respondents own at
least one cat, compared to 46.4 percent who
own at least one dog. Many respondents
have multiple-cat households, so totals
report almost 1,000 more cats owned by
. respondents than dogs.
A higher percentage of female respon
dents, it seems, are pet owners. A gender
preference for cats or dogs is revealed, with
cats more popular among women, lust over
60 percent of female respondents own cats
and just fewer than 53 percent own dogs.
The canines eke out a win over cats for men.
Cats rule and dogs drooll More than 48
percent of respondents own at least one
cat, while slightly more than 46 percent
own at least one dog.
with 40.7 percent of male respondents own
ing dogs and 38.3 percent owning cats.
The GL Census, which concentrates on
consumer information, finds that one-fifth of
respondents who said they own a dog or cat
spend between $300 and $432 a year on
their pet.
“This new information is interesting not
only to breeders and kennels, but to pet food
manufacturers, veterinarians, [dog groomers]
or anyone who works in the pet industry
who wishes to court a significant market,"
says Jeffrey Garber, president of OpusComm
Group Inc., and founder of the GLCensus
Partners study. “Even airlines, hotels, and
apartment complexes are evaluating their
policies on dogs and cats in light of the strong
gay interest in pet ownership."
About a third of the dogs listed in the sur
vey came from a breeder (33.7 percent) while
22.7 percent were adopted from an animal
shelter. Of cats, 27.5 percent were strayed or
injured and taken in, while 24.9 percent were
adopted from a shelter.
The new 2003-2004 Gay/Lesbian
Consumer Online Census is currently
being conducted through August 18, 2003.
The census will look for significant new
findings in the areas of LGBT demograph
ics, media habits apd the following con
sumer categories: automotive, childcare,
clothing and related accessories, computer
equipment, electronics, entertainment,
financial, food and beverage, home and
garden, medical, personal care, pets,
sports and fitness and travel as they relate
to the LGBT community.
info:
www.opuscommgroup.com
www.glcensus.otg
0m
If you have a pet,
we should be your vet!
Dr. Margurette Straley
Dr. Leland McLaughlin, Jr.
Freedom
Animal Hospital
3055 Freedom Drive
Charlotte, NC 28208
i&Ks Phone: 704-399-6534
Fax:704-391-0210