New National Pet Owners Survey Details Two Decades of Evolving Pet Ownership

According to this survey, major impacts on pet ownership include:

• Greater availability of pet accessories
• Increased uses of pet care services
• Increased use and efficacy of oral and topical flea and tick products
• Greater varieties of food and treats, including organic, kosher and gourmet
• Better dental care
• Improved veterinary care and medicines
• Increased use of homeopathic medicines
• Streamlined information sources
• Expansion of pet care items and odor controlling sources

Notable findings from the report:

• Greater interest and consciousness of food and treats has lead to an increase in the number of pet owners who consider these "specialty" foods to be worth the extra time and money.
• The number of dog owners who obtain health insurance for their dogs remained the same from 2006, 3%, however, more dogs are given medication (77%) than any other type of pet. 72% of horses have also been given meds in the past year.
• The use of homeopathic remedies has been increasing since 2002, with 6% of total dog owners and 4% of cat owners using these remedies in this most recent report.
• About 3% of dog owners have dental products for their dogs on hand.
• The % of dog owners who have beds for their pet increased from 18% in 2004 to 26% in 2006.
• The majority of pet owners say they would take some action to ensure the safety of their pet during a disaster.
• Nearly 30% of pet owners memorialize a lost pet on some way.
• More than one half of all pet owners have bought a gift for their pet in the last 12 months.
• From the last survey, the number of households owning a horse increased by 2.4% to 4.2 million households.
• The average age of the person responsible for purchasing pet products is 46 years old and is typically female.