Millions of dog and cat owners prefer cuddling their pets to their children or loved ones when feeling down, a new survey claimed yesterday.

And a quarter (24 per cent) treat their animals more like a child, according to the findings of the poll.

The study of 1,124 pet owners was carried out by Opinion Matters for www.mysocialpetwork.co.uk.

One in five owners said they rearranged their social plans because of their pets and one in 10 had taken their animals along to special occasions such as christenings and weddings, it found.

A further seven per cent of owners had cancelled a date to be with their pets, while four per cent admitted taking sick leave from work to spend time with them. (AP)

Old lady tackles Komodo dragon

An 83-year-old Indonesian woman has fought off an attack from a Komodo dragon with a brush.

The six-foot lizard bit her hand while she was near her house on Rinca island.

She hit the dragon’s nose several times with the brush until it let go and neighbours drove it away. (PA)

Crime fighter is victim of theft

Dorset’s first police and crime commissioner has become the victim of theft while at a meeting discussing crime in the community.

Martyn Underhill’s force pool car was broken into and the sat-nav stolen while the vehicle was parked at the Sovereign Centre in Boscombe, Bournemouth, where he was attending a meeting.

Mr Underhill said: “We all know Boscombe does have a crime issue. The irony of this incident has not been lost on me.” (PA)