‘Tis the season to give, and pet owners like us are in a giving frame of mind. According to a recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive(R) on behalf of Merial, a leading global animal health company, many pets are in for a treat this season.

Despite some pets exhibiting “naughty” (and sometimes even aggressive) behavior, most pet owners like us say their furry friends are “nice” (75%) and many intend to buy them a holiday present (59%). A new on-line resource launched today might help improve the behavior grades pets get next year.

And in the spirit of the season, Merial is also stepping up to the plate by giving. To support the nation’s homeless pets, the company will donate 25 cents to Petfinder.com Foundation for every unique visit to Merial’s new web resource: http://www.mypettroubles.com/.

The new website provides the latest insights into what drives animal behavior and is aimed at helping owners build healthier relationships with their pets. The site features new pet behavior trends and professional advice from Dr. Scott Line, a leading board-certified veterinary behaviorist.

“Our survey makes it clear that people love their pets and feel guilty about time away from them (56% of pet owners). This often leads to over- indulgence, which can cause problems down the road,” said Dr. Line. “By arming pet owners with good information and support, we help make the relationship even more rewarding - for everyone.”

Dr. Line is the associate editor of the Merck Veterinary Manual, the leading veterinary reference book on animal diseases. Dr. Line also edited the manual’s chapter on the human-animal bond, as well as content regarding pet behavior.

Survey Results - Pets Behaving Badly

* 40% of dog owners report that their dog(s) jumps on or barks at guests in their home.

* 36% of dog owners report that their dog(s) jumps on or barks at strangers on the street.

* Despite the unpleasant behavior, only 17% of dog owners agreed that their dog(s) would definitely be on Santa’s “naughty” list this year.

Survey Results - Living the High Life

* Almost half of pet owners (44%) wish they were more knowledgeable about training their pets to behave better, yet seventy-five percentadmit to spoiling their animals.

* About half of dog owners (49%) let their dog sleep in their bed with them, and cat owners are even more likely to snuggle up in bed with their pet (69%).

* 65% of dog owners offer their pet scraps of their food, and 54% say their dog stares at them while they eat. Go figure!

* Perhaps the most encouraging news for pets this year is that 59% of pet owners plan to purchase a holiday gift for their animal, while only 5% will dress them up for parties. Now that’s something to celebrate!

About the Survey
This survey was conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of Merial between November 3 and November 7, 2006 among 1,331 U.S. adults 18 years of age or older who own a dog and/or a cat. Figures for region, age within gender, education, household income and race/ethnicity were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online.

With a pure probability sample of 1,331 adults, one could say with a 95% probability that the overall results would have a sampling error of +/-4 percentage points. The sampling error for the sub-samples of those who own a dog (n= 903) and those who own a cat (n= 800) would be higher and would vary. However that does not take other sources of error into account. This online survey is not based on a probability sample. Therefore, no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

About Merial
Merial is a world-leading, innovation-driven animal health company, providing a comprehensive range of products to enhance the health, well-being and performance of a wide range of animals. Merial employs approximately 5,000 people and operates in more than 150 countries worldwide. Its 2005 sales were in excess of $1.9 billion. Merial Limited is a joint venture between Merck & Co., Inc. and sanofi-aventis. For more information, please see http://www.merial.com/.

About Harris Interactive
Harris Interactive is the 12th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world. The company provides research-driven insights and strategic advice to help its clients make more confident decisions which lead to measurable and enduring improvements in performance. Harris Interactive is widely known for The Harris Poll, one of the longest running, independent opinion polls and for pioneering online market research methods. The company has built what it believes to be the world’s largest panel of survey respondents, the Harris Poll Online. Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States, Europe and Asia offices, its wholly-owned subsidiary Novatris in France and through a global network of independent market research firms. The service bureau, HISB, provides its market research industry clients with mixed-mode data collection, panel development services as well as syndicated and tracking research consultation. More information about Harris Interactive may be obtained at http://www.harrisinteractive.com/.

To become a member of the Harris Poll Online and be invited to participate in online surveys, register at http://go.hpolsurveys.com/PR.

Check out the My Pet Troubles site for more information about pet behavior.