Oklahomans Among The Most Dedicated Pet Owners in U.S.

While we all know that most of the people in the United States love animals, not all pet owners are the same. Oklahomans take owning pets to an entirely different level, according to new research from MetLife Pet Insurance.

The majority of pet owners would risk joblessness and relocate for their pets.

As a pet owner myself, some of these statistics hit very close to home for me. If you're a pet owner in Oklahoma maybe you've also been one of the 1 in 3 people who have skipped essentials like groceries and bills in order to afford pet expenses.

In my personal experience, I have had five horses at one time. Despite the fact that my income did not allow me to afford all five animals at the time, I didn't let that stop me. What did I do instead of selling them? I did what 80% of Americans have claimed they would do and took on another job in order to afford the cost of care for that many animals.

Oklahoma is debatably one of the best states to own a pet in the U.S.

Luckily for Oklahomans, trying to afford pet care isn't too much of an issue. It's commonly known that Oklahoma is the most affordable state to own a pet.

Oklahomans specifically answered in the MetLife Pet Insurance survey that they would be willing to give up their jobs, taking on debt or skipping bills in order to afford pet expenses. We truly would give up anything for our furbabies to keep them happy and as healthy as possible.

How do Oklahomans step up for their animals differently than other states?

We routinely step up for animals to receive care and support legislature meant to enhance the lives of the animals we have currently in the state – pets and those that need adopted. We also take animal care incredibly seriously. In Oklahoma, if someone is convicted of animal abuse, they're given a felony charge for mistreating animals in a variety of ways.

It doesn't surpise me to see the research on just how far Oklahomans would go for their pets. But we do want to hear more about your pets. Share with us your photos and stories through the app.