It's Official: Americans Are Dog People

Take that, cat lovers: A new study of Americans and animals has found the majority of Americans prefer dogs. A Public Policy Polling survey found 52% of American voters prefer dogs, while just 21% prefer cats. And if they had to choose between a dog and a cat for President of the United States, 37% would choose a dog, compared with just 19% for cats. Other important findings from the study:

• 61% of voters are pet owners.
• Almost a third let their pets sleep in bed with them.
• Americans are most scared of snakes, with 21% naming them the most frightening—just ahead of alligators at 19%.
• If choosing an "exotic" pet, 26% would choose a tiger, 20% a giraffe, and 18% a ... dinosaur.
• In a fight between a bear and a shark, the majority think a bear would win.
• Bambi is America's most popular movie animal, followed by Lassie, Garfield, Nemo, and Free Willy, respectively.

Click through to read more of this critical research at Public Policy Polling. (More pets stories.)