19 May 2026
Research reveals two thirds of Aussie pet owners without kids involve their furry family in almost every aspect of their lives
We’ve all heard the saying “the world doesn’t revolve around you” but for some pets, it might. A new international Pet Parenthood Report* surveying 6,000 child-free pet owners - including 2,000 Australians - from family connection and safety appLife360 reveals that pets influence the day-to-day decisions of more than three quarters (77%) of international SIPPs (single income pet parents) and DIPPs (dual income pet parents).
Locally, two thirds (66%) of Aussie respondents said their pet is involved in almost every aspect of their life - revealing that for this growing family dynamic, it's no longer “what time are we meeting?” but “can the dog, cat, or rabbit come too?”
PLUS ONES WITH PAWS
The research reveals almost a quarter (23%) of SIPPs and DIPPs internationally have declined social invitations because they didn’t want to leave their pet alone. Many more simply bring them along, with pets coming along to cafés and restaurants (20%), grocery stores (16%), and even to the pub for a pint (14%). More than one in eight (14%) have even taken their pets to their workplace.
And it’s not just day-to-day plans, almost half (48%) have taken their pets on vacation, and a further 26% say they’ve changed how or where they travelled to accommodate their pet - from choosing staycations over flying, to seeking pet-friendly hotels.
Aussie SIPPs and DIPPs put on even greater displays of devotion, with 18% admitting they have altered their work routine - from flexible hours to working from home - to better care for their pet, and nearly half (44%) ensure their pets are involved whenever they visit friends and family.
PAW-SITIVELY DEVOTED TO YOU
Pets play a starring role in Aussie SIPPs and DIPPs' love lives too. More than one in eight (13%) admit their pet has influenced their dating life - from only dating fellow animal lovers, to judging a partner based on how their pet reacts to them.
This mentality extends to bigger milestones with many international SIPPs and DIPPs wanting their pet on the guestlist at their wedding (30%) or included in their proposals (22%). When it comes to starting a family, the majority (86%) of survey respondents already consider their pet to be like their child, while 60% say they are prioritising spending their time, love and money on their pet over plans to have children.
FUR-EVER ON THEIR MIND
SIPPs and DIPPs Down Under say they want to spend as little time apart from their furry friends as possible. When they have no choice most Australian pet parents rely on family (50%) and friends (32%) to care for their pet, with one in eight (13%) choosing pet daycare, kennels and catteries.
But even then, it’s hard for them to be apart with nearly one in five (19%) saying they don’t trust others much or at all to care for their pet.
This reluctance signals a growing appetite for tools that help them stay connected. Nearly three in 10 (29%) Aussie SIPPs and DIPPs already use technology for peace of mind about their pet’s whereabouts, and a further 35% say they are open to it.
Lauren Antonoff, Chief Executive Officer at Life360, commented: “I’m one of those pet parents who takes their pup with them around town. It’s not surprising to me that this study reveals that pets are deeply woven into everyday life in Australia — from daily routines to major life decisions. Adding pets to Life360 with Pet Profiles and Pet GPS trackers was the obvious way to give pet parents the same peace of mind we’ve been giving families from the start.”
CONNECTED, WHEREVER THEY ROAM
Life360 has recently introduced its in-app Pet Profiles, and Pet GPS tracker - designed to help families stay connected to their pets in real time, alongside their wider Circle of people and belongings.
More than 120,000 new Pet Profiles are created on Life360 worldwide every week and over half (62%) of those pets on Life360 are “only children,” meaning they live in a SIPP or DIPP household. Using a combination of GPS, cellular, WiFi and Bluetooth, the device shares live location directly in the Life360 app, with features including geofencing alerts, escape notifications and location history. It features a universal collar attachment, built-in safety LED light, water resistance up to one metre, and a battery that lasts up to 14 days on a single charge, extendable to six months in Reserve Mode.
The Life360 Pet GPS is available in Australia, New Zealand, US, UK and Canada, at Life360.com. It retails for AUD $89.99 (plus the price of a Gold or Platinum membership).
*Research conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Life360 conducted between April 8, 2026 and April 14, 2026, surveying 6,000 single income pet parents and double income pet parents without children across the UK, USA, and Australia - including a nationally representative sample of over 2,000 Australian SIPPs and DIPPs.
ABOUT LIFE360
Life360, a family connection and safety company, keeps people close to the ones they love. The category-leading mobile app and hardware tracking devices empower members to stay connected to the people, pets, and things they care about most, with a range of services including location-sharing, safe driver reports, and crash detection with emergency dispatch. As a remote-first company based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Life360 serves approximately 95.8 million monthly active users (MAU), as of December 31, 2025, across more than 180 countries, with 3.5 million MAU in Australia. Life360 delivers peace of mind and enhances everyday family life in all the moments that matter, big and small. For more information, please visit life360.com. Life360 is publicly traded on the Australian Securities Exchange under ASX:360.