New research out reveals that Brits believe that a dog is now more than just a man’s best friend, with almost half (49%) of pet owners questioned claiming that they were an important family member, while almost a quarter (21%) claimed their pets were more important than their in-laws.

The study, commissioned by Matalan to launch their Made for Modern Families campaign, also revealed that 22 per cent of Brits cited their pet as a close family member; just below grandparents (26%).

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