Do you prefer your pet to your child? You're not alone

With the rise in working from home, many pet owners have become accustomed to spending a lot of time with their pets. – Photo: Pekic/Getty Images via ETX Studio

It's not uncommon for pet owners to refer to each other as "mom" and "dad." And for good reason, many behave like parents with their four-legged companions. The phenomenon is such that 42% of Americans dread going back to the office because they will have to leave their furry friends home alone.

This startling statistic comes from a survey conducted for pet-sitting and walking app Wag! and reported by Mashable. More than 1,000 adults in the US who have adopted, purchased or received at least one dog as a gift in the past two years were asked about their relationship with man's best friend.