Study reveals how pet owners plan trips around their pets

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See the original research story here.

FOR MANY PET OWNERS, IF THEIR PET CAN'T COME ON VACATION... THEY'RE NOT GOING EITHER.

A NEW SURVEY OF 2,000 PET OWNERS FROM SUBARU FOUND NEARLY HALF HAVE TURNED DOWN A TRAVEL OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE IT COULDN'T ACCOMMODATE THEIR PET.

AND THAT'S HELPING PUT MORE PETS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT.

THE STUDY, CONDUCTED BY TALKER RESEARCH, FOUND NEARLY THREE-QUARTERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO ROAD TRIP INSTEAD OF FLY – SPECIFICALLY SO THEIR PET CAN COME ALONG.

AND HALF SAY TRAVELING WITH THEIR PET IS ACTUALLY BETTER THAN TRAVELING WITH ANOTHER PERSON.

SO... WHO'S YOUR IDEAL ROAD TRIP COMPANION, YOUR FAVORITE PERSON OR YOUR PET? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Research methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 adults 18+ who drive and own Pets(Cats/Dogs) who have access to the internet; the survey was commissioned by Subaru and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between July 13 - July 17, 2026. A link to the questionnaire can be found here.

To view the complete methodology as part of AAPOR’s Transparency Initiative, please visit the Talker Research Process and Methodology page.