The survey, which also found that "half of all American pet owners consider their pets as much a part of the family as any other person in the household," helps to explain why more and more airlines are catering to four-legged fliers, throwing in such onboard amenities as toiletry kits and carob snacks. For more details, go to Petswelcome.com; the post links to a list of the top five pet-friendly airlines.

Despite the warming trend, pet-related airline regulations "can be daunting," warns Kelly Jason, a columnist for Examiner.com. "Purchasing airline passage for an animal doesn't mean it will be accepted at check-in time." You can read her "three essential rules for pet airline travel" here.

Starting next month, dogs and cats will get their own airline when Pet Airways begins flying "average-sized pets" between five major U.S. cities, with plans to add routes quickly. No human passengers will be allowed on the customized planes, but not to worry. From USAToday: "Pets will be flown in individual crates in lighted and pressurized plane cabins, with a human attendant checking them every 15 minutes. They'll board, just like people, from their own airport lounges and get overnight lodging accommodations on long-haul flights. Their owners can track their whereabouts at all times online. They can even earn 'pet points' as frequent fliers."

Airports, too, are starting to bend a little. According to Petswelcome.com, "Miami International recently spent $40,000 to build two pet parks, each with a bench for people and a fire hydrant for pets."