If you've ever been tempted to skip a party and stay home with your dog instead, you're apparently not alone.

More than half of B.C. dog owners - 58 per cent - have chosen to miss a celebration or family gathering because there was no one who could take care of their pet while they were out, according to a new poll from Insights West.

The reasons people are skipping fiestas for Fido could be chalked up to how much British Columbians love their four-legged friend: the survey findings revealed that 99 per cent of dog owners consider their pet a member of the family, and 54 per cent said there are days where they love their pup more than their spouse, partner of significant other.

Dogs were even seen as a deal breaker in relationships. Eighty-per-cent of survey respondents said they would not marry - or even date - someone who didn't like their canine companion.

The poll found that all that puppy love was seemingly making some owners overlook dog bylaws - and basic etiquette.

While 95 per cent of dog owners said they always pick up after Fido, 93 per cent of respondents who are dog-free say they've witnessed pet owners leaving waste on the ground. Results were similar when it came to keeping dogs on leash: Three-in-four dog owners said they always keep their pup on leash when required, but 96 per cent of non-dog owners reported seeing unleashed dogs.

"Pets are just like other facets of life - there are always people who don't play by the rules," said Mario Canseco, Vice President of Insights West.

But non-dog owners aren't as tolerant as their pet-owning counterparts when it comes to bylaw infractions, he added.

"Dog owners may occasionally leave dog waste on the ground if no one is watching, but if you're a non-dog owner you're probably more likely to get upset and call them out for not following the rules, either ethically or legally."

There were two issues that both dog owners and non-dog owners were in near-complete agreement over: whether dogs can express their feelings (96 per cent and 93 per cent, respectively), and whether dogs can tell how their human is feeling, and respond accordingly (86 per cent and 90 per cent, respectively).

The poll surveyed 879 British Columbians online between July 24 and 29. Insights West claims a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 per cent.