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U.S. Pet Ownership Statistics


Dogs

* There are approximately 74.8 million owned dogs in the United States
* Thirty-nine percent of U.S. households own at least one dog
* Most owners (63 percent) own one dog
* Twenty-five percent of owners own two dogs
* Twelve percent of owners own three or more dogs
* On average, owners have almost two dogs (1.7)
* The proportion of male to female dogs is even
* Ten percent of owned dogs were adopted from an animal shelter
* On average, dog owners spent $219 on veterinary visits (vaccine, well visits) annually
* Seventy-five percent of owned dogs are spayed or neutered

Cats

* There are approximately 88.3 million owned cats in the United States
* Nearly 34 percent of U.S. households (or 38.4 million) own at least one cat
* Fifty-six percent of owners own more than one cat
* On average, owners have two cats (2.3)
* More female cats are owned than male cats (73 percent vs. 63 percent respectively)
* Eighteen percent of owned cats were adopted from an animal shelter
* Cat owners spent an average of $175 on routine veterinary visits
* Eighty-seven percent of owned cats are spayed or neutered


U.K. pet statistics

* There are 27 million pets in the UK with dogs and cats being the animal of choice for pet lovers with over 7.3 and 7.2 million across the UK respectively. (The UK’s Top Ten Pets can be found in the notes below)

* 39% of London’s pet owners purchase their pet for companionship, despite living in the UK’s highest populated city.

* 60% of single people in the UK buy a pet for companionship – 39% of whom have replaced their partner with a pet

* 21% of pet owners have wanted a pet since childhood, and almost of half of people living in the North East have wanted a pet since their early years

* The East Midlands has the most pet lovers, with 14% of the pet population living in the heart of the UK, compared to only 4% of the population residing in Wales.

* 39% of London pet owners feel the need for companionship despite having over 7.5 million neighbours across the city

* 21% of owners bought their pet for companionship, compared to only 5% who have their pet for security

* Over a quarter (27%) of the UK’s pets were bought or acquired from an animal welfare or rescue centre compared to 20% from a pet shop


Australia Pet Ownership Statistics

* 12 million Australians are associated with pets.
* 63% of the 7.5 million households in Australia own pets.
* Australia has one of the highest incidence of pet ownership in the world.
* Typically, the major carer of the pet is female, married with children, living in the suburbs and most likely employed.
* 91% of pet owners report feeling 'very close' to their pet, reinforcing that pets are an integral member of the family unit, however constituted.
* Pets were a normal part of childhood for more than 83% of Australians.
* Of the Australians who do not currently own a pet, 53% would like to do so in the future.