It’s National Pet Day And Nevada Made The List — We Love Our Pets
It’s National Pet Day – More treats! We love our furry (feathered, gilled, shelled, etc.) friends. Pet ownership in the U.S. has jumped significantly over the past three decades. As…
National Pet Day
redstallion via Getty ImagesIt's National Pet Day - More treats! We love our furry (feathered, gilled, shelled, etc.) friends. Pet ownership in the U.S. has jumped significantly over the past three decades. As of 2023, 66% of U.S. households (that's about 86.9 million homes) own a pet. From companionship to emotional support, pets are a vital part of their owners’ lives. In fact, 85% of dog owners and 76% of cat owners consider their pets to be a member of the family. Come on - you know you've said it too!
Think about this: A record 3.6 million Americans tuned into the Puppy Bowl this year. If you missed it, Team Fluff brought home the “Lombarky” trophy after beating out Team Ruff 87 to 83.
Pet Love in the U.S.:
- Dogs are the most popular pet in the U.S. ( 65.1 million U.S. households own a dog), followed by cats (46.5 million households) and freshwater fish (11.1million households).
- Millennials make up the largest percentage of current pet owners (33%%), followed by Gen X (25%) then baby boomers (24%) .
- In 2022, Americans spent $136.8 billion on their pets, which is up almost 11% from 2021 ($123.6 billion).
- Dog owners spend an average of $730 a year on their dogs.
- 42% of dog owners and 43% of cat owners got their pets from a store, while 38% of dog owners and 40% of cat owners got their pets from an animal shelter or rescue. (In this writers opinion, this should be the other way around.)
- More than half of pet owners let their pets sleep with them. 60% said yes, at least sometimes.
- We don't trust people as much if they don't like pets. Over a third of Americans say it makes someone seem less trustworthy.
We all agree that the love of a pet is priceless - but the cost of owning one is not always. Veterinary care, grooming, food, treats, among other things, can add up quickly. A Forbes survey of more than 5,000 U.S. dog owners found that 41% of dog owners spend between $500 and $1,999 a year on their dogs.
If an unexpected vet bill pops up for a major incident, you could be on the hook for thousands of dollars just for that—42% of pet owners say it's tough to cover a surprise vet bill of $999 or less. Pet insurance can partially reimburse you. And while you may not want to add another expense to your pet care costs, you might be surprised at how affordable pet insurance can be. Will it always be accepted? No. Just like our insurance, there are stipulations.
We love our pets so much. that in a recent poll, 51% of pet owners said think they could sell merchandise of their pet to other people online. Thirty three percent of pet owners have already designed their own pet "merch."
So on National Pet Day, give your pet some extra treats, so they know you love them. Yeah - like they don't already!
And here are the states with the most devoted dog owners (based on percentage of dog owners who would spend $4,000 or more out-of-pocket on life-saving medical care for their dog, and percentage of dog owners who stayed at a job they disliked because it allowed them to work remotely or had a dog-friendly office).
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Colorado
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Virginia
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Georgia
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Alaska
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Nevada
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Texas
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Arkansas and Washington (tie)
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Delaware
Olga Smolina via Getty ImagesOregon
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