MOTIVES FOR ACQUIRING COMPANION ANIMALS

This investigation shows that people keep animals mainly for social re asons. The principal social reason is companionship, and respondents w ere unable to explain this reason further. This was not only the case for people who were living alone, but also for people living in famili es. But in addition to this motivational factor there are several othe r factors influencing companion animal ownership. Childhood experience is one of the influencing factors and the willingness to spend spare time with the animal is another.