The popularity of outlet malls is on the rise.

This year, seven outlet malls are planned in the United States and another nine in 2015, according to the 2012 State of the Outlet Industry. That follows 17 in the U.S. and Canada during the past few years.

The Great Recession has evened out the playing field between outlet and regional malls, causing more retailers to open up outlets to compete with the changing market, said Retailing Today.

SOURCE/2012 State of the Outlet Industry

Since the recession, consumers have been willing to spend more, said Garden Center Magazine, but are staying price-conscious and making smaller purchases. This has allowed retailers to create and open outlet shops to attract more customers to their products and create a new market of customers who have not shopped at outlet stores.

Outlet shopping centers make available better deals on high-end items to draw a larger clientele.

“It is cheap and you can get designer clothes and shoes for a good deal,” Kelly Torpey of Davisburg said.

Kelly Torpey

“My clients like to keep an eye on their bottom line,” said Christa Williams, a personal shopper of Christa shops for you. “I shop at outlets personally and you have to know what prices are to get a good deal, I have seen that the Nordstrom Rack has been more crowded in the last year.”

Outlet malls originated in 1980, said Retailing Today, a retailing industry news source. This type of mall opened a way for manufacturers and retailers to resell past-season merchandise or have an exclusive line available at a discounted price.

Great Lakes Crossing Outlets is Michigan’s only regional enclosed value-shopping center. There are two other outdoor outlets malls: Tanger Outlets in Howell and Birch Run Premium Outlets in Birch Run.

Three years ago, Great Lakes Crossing revamped its marketing program to add Outlets to its name.  Officials said the change was because of customer demand and the success of outlet retailers at the center.  More outlet stores opened there after the name change.

“Outlets malls are not a new concept,” said Chung Sok, part of the marketing group of mall management at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets. “Their popularity has been growing; people have become more educated on shopping and are more price conscious.”

Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, the state’s largest retail center, draws customers from a wide region. Their spending brings revenue to businesses in the Auburn Hills area and helps boost the economy.

“Visitors come from Canada and from foreign countries on business,” Sok said, “Taxes are less which gives them better perceived value.”

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Learning a foreign allows you to communicate in ways you never thought possible.

BY STEVIE THIEDA
OU News Bureau

People are connected more than ever because of advancements in technology, social networking, the Internet and travel.

While communication with people around the world is easier, there is an important area that still needs improvement —learning a foreign language.

More than 90 percent of children in Europe begin learning a foreign language in elementary school, while less than one-third of elementary schools in the United States offer foreign language courses to students.

Less than half of all middle and high school students in the United States are enrolled in a foreign language course, even though it is a requirement in Michigan that all students in ninth through twelfth grade take one.

Oakland University junior Megan VanSparrentak kept her future in mind by choosing to minor in Spanish.

Megan VanSparrentak

“Learning a foreign language is good for just about anyone,” VanSparrentak said.  “Regardless of what you major in, if you have some sort of degree and are able to say that you can speak another language, a company will probably want to hire you over someone who can’t say that about themselves.”

Washington State University’s Foreign Languages & Cultures Department reported, “More and more businesses work closely with companies in other countries. They need many different kinds of workers who can communicate in different languages and understand other cultures.”

Spanish is the most popular language studied in the United States, followed by French and German.

When it comes to speaking and writing in a foreign language, the younger you are, the better.

A child’s brain at 2 years old has twice as many connections as that of an adult brain.  These connections are lost over time if they are not used, so failure to learn a skill such as a foreign language at an early age can make it more difficult as time goes on. The critical period for learning a second language is at age 4 or 5 for the child to learn it and have it stick through life.

Spanish is the most commonly studied foreign language in U.S. colleges and universities. More than 850,000 students studied it in 2009. SOURCE/Association of Departments of Foreign Languages at the Modern Language Association, Foreign Language Enrollments in United States Institutions of Higher Education, Fall 2010

Learning a foreign language enables a person to break communication barriers.

“Learning another language is a way to connect to others in a way that you simply can’t unless you both are on the same page, and can speak on common grounds with the same words, grammar and syntax,” said Michael Turner, a Spanish teacher at L’Anse Creuse North High School.

“The smile on a person’s face as you attempt to try and understand their life and connect to them in their language is completely priceless,” he continued. “It’s something you can never really find anywhere else other than when learning and perfecting another language.”

Not only can a foreign language be beneficial in communicating, but it can also help your mental health.

Studies suggest that learning a second language and speaking it regularly might improve your cognitive skills and even help delay the onset of diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.

The ability to speak another language also gives a person the opportunity to become more cultured.

“Learning a foreign language helps people become open to new experiences,” VanSparrentak said.  “I’m going (through school) to the Dominican Republic this summer, and I don’t think that would have been possible if I didn’t know Spanish.”

Taking on another language can lead to a sense of accomplishment, too.

“Learning another language is challenging, but once you are able to finally speak to someone without hesitation in their native language, even if it’s not your native one, it’s exhilarating,” Turner said. “It’s like something you never thought you’d accomplish, but yet you manage to do it.”

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A helicopter dropped 15,000 marshmallows for eager children to collect at Catalpa Oaks County Park. PHOTO/Megan Hodder

BY MEGAN HODDER
OU News Bureau

SOUTHFIELD —Thousands of parents and children gathered Friday at Catalpa Oaks County Park and looked up.

Tumbling down from the sky were 15,000 marshmallows from a helicopter as part of an Easter event called The Great Marshmallow Drop.

Kate Pinnick and her 3-year-old daughter, Charlotte, said they had fun at the drop. PHOTO/MEGAN HODDER

“It’s a great alternative to an Easter egg hunt,” Kate Pinnick said. The 35-year-old La Grange, Ill., resident was there with her daughters.

Her 3-year-old daughter, Charlotte, said her favorite part was running out to collect a marshmallow. Students traded in marshmallows for prizes such as kazoos and candy.

Organizers broke the children up into three groups: ages 4 and younger and individuals with disabilities, ages 5 to 7, and ages 8 and up. The helicopter dropped a load of sweet confections three times, once for each group.

Margaret Goldstein of Southfield was there with her daughter who was in the age 8 and up group. It was their first time. Her daughter was even willing to get up early on a day off school to come out.

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Store manager Gary Kaye said he can build a nanny cam into just about anything. PHOTO/STEPHANIE SOKOL

BY STEPHANIE SOKOL
OU News Bureau

People sometimes feel like they are being watched. That very well could be the case because Gary Kaye can make anything into a nanny cam.

“I tell people, ‘Bring in an object, give me an hour, let me take it apart and see what I can do,’ ” said Kaye, general manager of Spy Shops USA.

Spy Shops USA in downtown Rochester carries monitoring equipment for the curious and suspecting shopper. The store shares location and ownership with a private investigative company.

Professional investigator Mark Ford founded Risk Security & Investigations. The Michigan-licensed company provides investigation and security guards for local businesses.  

“I’ve always wanted to do it,” Ford said. “I was one of those kids who always wanted to be a cop, or a P.I., so I followed my dreams.”

Ford has seen many cases of divorce caused by infidelities.

Professional Investigator and Spy Shops USA owner Mark Ford works on the company’s website. While the company is local, the site is wholesale and sells to other suppliers. PHOTO/STEPHANIE SOKOL

He talked about going undercover in the company van to catch footage of cheating spouses, in addition to bigger cases featuring government officials or missing persons.

“There’s nothing typical,” Ford said.

One case involved a woman who suspected her husband of cheating. After doing research, Ford went out with his team in a worn-out van and sat in the parking lot with a camera.

The husband and his secretary pulled up next to the vehicle and began getting intimate in the back seat. Ford’s team caught them on tape in the act, confirming the wife’s suspicions.

“My philosophy is if you get to the point where you’re sitting in that chair, or that couch, coming to see me, you know what’s happening,” Ford said. “You just want proof — you just want the facts.”

Another instance led Ford’s team on the hunt for a missing person — a college student who went missing on a spring break trip to Mexico. He and the mother searched for the young woman, who had been murdered. Ford, who found the student’s body on a beach, described it as the “most difficult case” he’s dealt with.

“(I like to help people because) it’s the right thing to do,” Ford said.

Ford’s wife persuaded him to pursue his dream of opening a Spy Shop. When they were visiting downtown Rochester 10 years ago, they rented a building and moved the detective agency there.

The Internet worked as Ford’s guide in spy product research. He said it now dominates the industry in this area, and while there are a few other spy shops, his is “the biggest and the best” in metro Detroit.

GPS tracking devices, cell phone or computer monitoring systems, and nanny cams are among the store’s top-sellers, Kaye said. The surveillance security cameras sync to all devices, from computers and televisions to cell phones, so people can view footage anywhere, anytime.

A popular item is the AC Adaptor camera, which plugs into the wall and holds a standard SD card. Kaye said he can install nanny cams into a variety of household objects, to fit into a natural setting. PHOTO/STEPHANIE SOKOL

Spy Shop employees build much of the equipment in-house. Kaye builds the nanny cams, which started with people bringing in household items.

People with suspicions who don’t want to hire an investigator come in for devices to watch their children or cheating spouses, Kaye said.

He has put cameras into household objects, including pens, sunglasses, wall clocks, air purifiers and books. Kaye said people like these nanny cams because they aren’t noticeable.

One of Kaye’s favorite products is the AC adaptor nanny cam, which looks like normal charger but has a DVR camera that records to a memory card.

“I hate to say it, there’s no perfect product out there for every situation, but if you can give somebody the right direction, usually if it fits 70 to 80 percent of what they want, they’re happy,” Kaye said.

“And I’ve had quite a few people come back where I sent them home, they got the information they wanted and were happy about it. That’s what keeps me going, is the good feedback afterwards.”Tweet

The average age of users on social networking sites, including Facebook, is climbing. SOURCE/PEWINTERNET.ORG

BY AMANDA WILCZAK
OU News Bureau

Facebook, originally designed for college students to broaden their social network, is attracting older generations.

By far the largest social networking site, Facebook counts more than 1 billion users and has spread to older generations: baby boomers, generation X and generation Y, who are also called millennials.

Facebook users are on the social networking site to keep up with friends and family, post about their social life, advance their careers and keep up with the latest in politics.

The Huffington Post states the average age of Facebook users was 33 in 2008 and rose to 38 in 2010. As the social networking site goes from novel to normal, dailyfinance.com reports young users are likely to get friend requests from their grandparents.

According to All Facebook, the older generations are becoming more comfortable with technology and realizing the ease of keeping in touch with loved ones. Some researchers suggest that keeping active in social networking helps seniors with depression and memory loss.

SOURCE/www.pewinternet.org

While older generations embrace Facebook, use among younger users has decreased. Research has shown that Twitter is becoming more popular with teenagers. Some theories are that Twitter is more mobile and the format is similar to texting, which teenagers are familiar with.

Baby boomers typically have a Facebook page to keep in contact with family and friends who live farther away from home, according to weebly.com. This generation, in its late 40s to late 60s, was born between 1946 and 1964.

According to Fox business, older adults are more in touch with today’s technology, such as cell phones. They also are urged by younger family members to join the social networking site.

“I like Facebook because it is cool. A great and quick way to keep in touch with everybody,” said Janet Dodds of North Branch, a baby boomer. “I have had kids that I picked up on my bus over 15 years ago contact me and classmates that I had in school over 50 years ago.”

Generation X now makes up the majority on Facebook. This generation is mid-30s to late 40s and its main use of Facebook is to keep in contact with family and friends from school.

Candice Yates

Candice Yates of Rochester Hills, a generation Xer, said in an email that she uses Facebook “to keep in touch with people from high school or college or even elementary school. Being able to look at photos or them and even find mutual friends in common you may have forgotten about!”

Generation X also uses it as a platform for businesses and career-related endeavors. About.com says users can help build their careers by wisely using connections gained from acquaintances.

Generation X also uses Facebook to keep up with political officials. Pew Internet says that social networking has become an important platform for politics. Facebook acts as a tool for presenting political information and finding others with the same values. It serves as an outreach when election season is in bloom.

“I utilize Facebook to connect with friends, promote causes and communicate with elected officials,” said Mark Gillim of North Branch, a generation Xer.

Generation Y, midteens to mid-30s, tend to use their pages as a place to share their photos and life with the world. Pew Internet research says this group shares its personal information to stay in touch.

Stacy Tyburski, an Oakland University student, uses Facebook “to stay connected with friends who are away at college.”

According to a study at Michigan State University on the benefits of Facebook, college students keep in touch with alumni through Facebook. These connections can help secure work.

About.com says that Facebook can be overlooked as a resource into finding jobs and internships. Many organizations and companies use Facebook for promotions and to expand their business model. Many have pages to promote their company and explain how to apply for a job.

Another way millennials use Facebook is for help with buying decisions. Forbes says this makes it difficult for marketers to properly represent products since this generation is more likely to trust the judgment of strangers than friends. The reason: Expert opinions about items and services from users can provide more information than a friend who might have second-hand knowledge.

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A huge selection of cowboy boots keeps customers coming to Arizona Saddlery, which has been in business since 1939. PHOTO/AUSTIN BROOKS

BY AUSTIN BROOKS
OU News Bureau

Among the many stores lining downtown Rochester’s Main Street, one shop stands out with its red brick front and bright orange sign that reads “Arizona Saddlery.”

Opened in 1939, it is Michigan’s oldest Western and English apparel store, according to its website. It carries primarily Western products, including saddles, horse care products and apparel.

While the shop is paradise for the serious horseback riders who make up a good amount of its business, the hobby is largely seasonal. That doesn’t seem to have much of an effect on business, according to manager Linda Leannais.

“We have customers that walk in every day, people that are biking by that stop in, all kinds of different people come in,” Leannais said.

Nonriders come to the store for the large selection of high-quality boots, as well as cowboy hats, Western-style shirts and moccasins. Local country music concerts and Western-themed parties and weddings bring in people who want to look the part.

Some customers simply are pulled in by the store’s character and appeal.

“It’s like when you walk into a restaurant and smell how good the food is,” Leannais said. “The smell of leather when customers walk in always puts a smile on their faces.”

That smell, plus the creaky, wooden floors and country music playing overhead, combine to give customers a one-of-a-kind experience, something unlike other shops on the main drag.

During the last half-century or so, only a handful of places have managed to stay open in the downtown area. Lytle and Morton’s Pharmacies, Jerry’s Gun Shop and Red Knapps Dairy Bar are a few that have stood the test of time. It’s not easy.

“To build a business that lasts, you have to be more than just a store,” said Jerry of Jerry’s Gun Shop. “Having your niche market, not doing the same thing that everyone else is doing and keeping your customers coming back by doing things the right way is the key to lasting in any business.”Tweet

Tubers were among the tens of thousands of people at the 2013 Rochester Fire & Ice Festival. PHOTO/STEPHANIE SOKOL

BY STEPHANIE SOKOL
OU News Bureau

Ice sculpting, family events and food enticed a record crowd estimated at 30,000 to the Rochester Fire & Ice Festival last weekend.

The turnout was the most in the festival’s six years, according to Stephanie Hellebuyck, Rochester Downtown Development Association events coordinator.

Rachel Jacob of Macomb skates in the Rochester Fire and Ice skating expo. PHOTO/STEPHANIE SOKOL

“Fire and Ice is a great family event,” Hellebuyck said. “Oakland County came together with Rochester to embrace winter, and I think we did that.”

The festival is a collaboration of the Rochester DDA committee and Oakland County. Businesses sponsored ice sculptures, which were provided by Finesse Catering Team. Click here for a slide show of the ice sculptures.

Dining and entertainment

In addition to live music, local venders brought culinary creations to the TasteFest and Beer Tent.

New to downtown, Holy Cannoli’s brought its 75 flavors of the dessert to the festival. The bakery sells specialty, handmade, family-recipe cannolis.

“The Fire and Ice Festival brought us exposure,” co-owner Kathy Schulte said. “The family atmosphere here is really wonderful. It’s such a special event.”

Other entertainment in the tent included face painting.

Community involvement

Soave Enterprises, Hour Detroit, Royal Park and Genisys Credit Union were among sponsors. Oakland County Parks and Recreation helped with operations.

“I think it’s a great event for families to get out and participate in physical activity in the winter,” Laurie Stasiak, parks and recreations supervisor, said. “It’s a good time here; everyone is happy.”

The Rochester Lions Club hosted its annual warming tent and s’mores bonfire, providing a break from the cold. The group has worked with the festival since its beginning, said David McKenzie, Lions Club Fire and Ice Event coordinator.

All proceeds raised by the organization go to charities, specifically Leader Dogs for the Blind, said Dennis Scott, Lions Club member, adding that through events, members have raised and contributed $60,000.

“I think (the festival) is great,” McKenzie said. “The DDA is doing a great job with it, and it’s fun to meet people. Rochester is really evolving.”

Encouraging physical activity

Outdoor fitness, tubing and exercise were incorporated into the festival’s events. Sunday, skaters from the Onyx and Suburban Ice showcased their skills at an ice skating expo.

Stephen Jacob of Macomb brought his daughter Rachel to the expo to skate. Rachel does competitions, but this was her first experience skating at the festival.

“It’s kind of cool because kids can get involved in the festival,” Stephen Jacob said. “Skating gives kids something constructive to do. I like Rachel competing because it prepares her to be a leader.”

Wendy and Tom Gueth brought Shimei Wang, Oakland University international scholar, for her last day here before she returned to China. Wendy Gueth said they enjoyed the festival.

“We came to the event because we wanted to go tubing,” she said. “It was our first time here. It’s an event that appeals to all ages. The tubing was very fun and the fire pit and s’mores were adorable.”

Gina and Timothy Dewey, owners of Shemhadar Dog Sled Adventures in Cadillac brought their canines to take people sledding. A trainer sled allows kids and adults to practice “driving” the dogs.

“This is by far one of the best festivals we’ve been to,” Gina Dewey said. “The staff is friendly and helpful. Everything is run great and we can sense the sense of family in this community; the parents really care about their kids.”

Parks and Rec also offered free cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, with staff members instructing.

“We have a strong belief in promoting health,” said Matt Bierlein, seasonal parks and recreation coordinator. “It gives young kids an opportunity to get a feel for winter sports.”

OU News Bureau reporter Mark McMillan took the photos and put together the slide show.Tweet

BY AMANDA HORWITZ
OU News Bureau

In another time, parents warned teen drivers about opening a can of pop. Today, there’s a much more deadly distraction: the cell phone.

According to an AAA survey of teen drivers, 46 percent of the teens say they have sent a text message while driving. PHOTO/AMANDA HORWITZ

Every day, more than 15 people are killed and more than 1,200 people are injured in crashes that were reported to involve a distracted driver, many of them using a cell phone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Having a pop while driving does not seem like a big distraction at all [today],” driver’s education teacher Pam Morse said.

On Jan. 7, Gov. Rick Snyder signed the “Kelsey’s Law” bill, which bans drivers on a level 1 or 2 graduated license from using a cell phone in any capacity. A statewide MLive Media Group investigation last year found that since 2002, one out of every five Michigan drivers using a cell phone during a crash was a teen.

Kelsey’s Law is named after 17-year-old Kelsey Raffaele, a Sault Ste. Marie teen who was killed in a 2010 car crash as she talked on the phone while driving.

Raffaele’s mother, Bonnie, went on a mission to ban teens from using cell phones while they are still on a graduated license. That license limits a teen’s exposure to high-risk situations during the first year of driving.

SOURCE/TEXTINGANDDRIVINGSAFETY.COM

Bonnie Raffaele took the idea to her senator, testified before a Senate committee and was instrumental in getting the bill passed in the Michigan Legislature.

She speaks at Michigan high schools and colleges to inform students about the dangers associated with distracted driving.

“When I speak at schools, I believe that most of the students are listening to what I am saying,” Raffaele said. “I have even received emails from parents informing me that they will never use a cell phone and drive again. I have also seen several student groups created in the last year campaigning for cell phone-free driving.”

During her speeches, Raffaele asks students to sign a banner to not use their cell phones while driving.  She now has five banners with more than 2,000 signatures.

Teaching teen drivers

A teen can to sign up for segment one of driver’s education at 14 years and nine months, according to the Michigan DMV.

Pam Morse, a teacher at Champion Driving School in Ann Arbor, said the instructors place a big emphasis on texting and driving in their classes because sending a text message makes a crash up to 23 times more likely.

“We show our students videos with kids their age talking about people they know who have lost their lives to using a cell phone in the car,” Morse said.  “Texting and driving is such a big problem especially with teens, but in the end, the kids continue to do what they want to do and that is a problem.”

Eric Reynolds, a 17-year-old driver from Farmington Hills, said he understands the dangers of using a cell phone while driving. Reynolds shuts his phone off while driving and turns it on when he gets out of the car.

“Cell phones are a distraction because it gets people more interested in looking at the phone than at the road,” Reynolds said. “By shutting my phone, I don’t have a think about reading a text or picking up a call.”

Kelsey’s Law takes effect in March. Teens disobeying the law will be fined.  To take the pledge to not use a phone while driving, visit http://www.distraction.gov/content/get-involved/take-the-pledge.html.

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December is a month dedicated to illumination. From the variety of colors decorating many homes to the anticipation of the winter solstice on Dec. 21, light is a central focus and hope of many.

Driving through Southfield, one is likely to encounter glowing lights neither upon the roofs nor around pine trees, but gleaming through house windows. Menorah’s are on display for the holiday season.

For many, it’s a season of miracles, and Hanukkah is the opportunity for those of Jewish religion and heritage to celebrate the memory of the miraculous, and perhaps witness a few new ones.

The menorah is the center of Hanukkah and contains nine candle holders, one for each of the eight days of Hanukkah and one for the servant candle, which is used to light the rest. PHOTO/CASEY JOHNSON

“At this time (of year),” said Hadassah Greenbaum, a resident of Southfield, “there are waves of miracles but you have to be receptive to pick it up.”

Greenbaum practices the orthodox faith, so, for her, Hanukkah is a time of remembrance. Historically, the Israelites were battling the Syrians in 166 B.C. The miracle of lights occurred when religious Jews believe God allowed a small measure of oil (enough to last for one day) to burn for eight days in the holy temple.

Nira Lev, professor of Hebrew at Oakland University, approaches the holiday a bit differently. As a nonreligious, native Israelite, she looks at the season as a time to remember that light will come to the earth again.

“It’s (symbolic) of confidence or faith in the order of things,” she said. “Light will come of darkness.”

And while Lev doesn’t believe in the divinity of miracles, she does believe in hope and the strength of the human race.

She recounts the story of a Hungarian Jew during World II who fled with her family during the German invasion. Just months later, she risked her life sneaking back into the country. She and a group of others were executed for trying to warn the people of the death camps.

When facing the firing squad, the woman told them she would be keeping her eyes wide open for execution. A writer herself, the woman left behind a legacy of hope and persistence during a time of shadow.

“One candle can light the darkness,” Lev quoted, “and the whole darkness cannot put out that one candle.”

For others, Hanukkah is about family, latkes (potato pancakes), dreidel (a spinning game played for money or candy), presents every night and parties.

At Oakland University, winter break begins just as Hanukkah ends, but some said school should not be affected by the holiday.

“This is not a major holiday at all (compared to other Jewish holidays),” said Sean Alpiner, a senior at Oakland University. “There should only be two days off for Jews: Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.”

With eight days of opportunity, a little celebration is not too hard to fit in.

While all Jews celebrate the holiday differently — just as many Christians celebrate Christmas with different customs and traditions — the emphasis is reflection. It’s reflection on light among the dark, hope for a brighter future and celebrating with family and friends.Tweet

When it comes to choosing a pet, there’s one main question: dog or cat?

Dogs and cats are popular because they make great family pets. Dogs are protective and sometimes aggressive if they believe their owners are threatened. Dogs are also great companions because they can sense when a person is sad and will try to cheer them up.

Cats are much more independent than dogs and won’t demand their owners’ attention nearly as much. Cats like to curl up with you when they sleep and enjoy when someone plays with them, but they don’t offer the full companionship of a dog.

For more on the differences between cats and dogs, click here.

Max belongs to Drew Wojciechowski of Rochester. PHOTO/ALEC BRZEZINSKI

Statistics show that cats are the most owned pets in America, at 86.4 million, with dogs second at 78.2 million. Dogs are found in 39 percent of U.S. households, cats in 33 percent, according to a survey compiled by the American Pet Products Association. On average, cat owners have 2.2 cats and dog owners have 1.6 dogs.

“I’ve had my dog, Max, for two and a half years now, and I couldn’t imagine owning any other pet, “ said Drew Wojciechowski of Rochester. “As a German Shepard mix, he’s really friendly towards people and generally pretty active.”

News Bureau conducted an unscientific poll through social media sites, which showed students, mostly in the age range of 19-23, prefer dogs to cats as dogs received 65 percent of the vote. Of the 97 people that voted for dogs, 65 of them were males.

People who are married are much more likely to own cats and dogs than those who are not. Also, people with young children are more likely than people without young children to own both dogs and cats.

It has been said dogs chase cats and cats chase dogs, but they actually live quite well together. As of 2012, 17 percent of pet owners own both a cat and a dog, according to an annual Gallup Poll on Americans and their pets.

Jennifer Baines of PetSmart said dogs are more popular pets for younger couples wanting to start a family. Singles, she said, often prefer cats because they’re more independent. Cats also make good pets for younger people because they are lower maintenance.

“Cats are my favorite because they aren’t as needy as dogs,” said Emma Jones, a freshman at Oakland University. “They just kind of do their own thing and mostly take care of themselves, unlike dogs that really need you to do a lot for them. I also like cats because they’re easier and more fun to mess with.”Tweet