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October 22, 2009

U.S. Pet Ownership Statistics

The Humane Society of the United States

The following statistics were compiled from the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association 2007-2008 National Pet Owners Survey.

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

For additional information on pet ownership statistics, contact the APPMA at 255 Glenville Rd., Greenwich, CT 06831, 800-452-1225, or visit www.appma.org.