Did you know that 50% of dog owners in the United States give their pet a Christmas gift or treat? Pet industry statistics reveal a lot about the way pet owners care for their furry friends. In fact, in 2020, American citizens spend a whopping $103.6 billion on their pets!
According to the 2021-2022 APPA National Pet Owners’ Survey, dog owners can expect to spend over $1500 per year on pet food. Interestingly, a large segment of those consumers are Gen Z pet owners.
A study conducted in 2020 by Segmanta found that out of 2000 US pet owners, Gen Z-ers appear to have the highest standards for pet food. Top quality dry dog food is the top choice for dog owners in this category.
The pet market industry is fascinating in its scope and growth. Globally, these statistics show that dog owners place a high priority on the health and well-being of their pets. The following statistics illuminate that further.
1. Pet Insurance by the Numbers
Gen Z Pet Owners Are More Likely to Have Pet Insurance. This thrifty group of people would rather not chance huge vet bills. Budgets and limited spending are where they’re at.
Pet insurance in North America helps cover the payment for injured or sick pets. It’s a growing business with gross written premiums up by 27.5% in 2020. By the end of 2020, the number of insured pets in America reached almost 3.1 million.
Many Gen Z dog owners, Gen Xers and Millennials consider their dogs their children. Pet insurance is one way they can try and protect themselves from suddenly high bills.
2. Monthly Subscription Boxes
According to Statista, Gen Z pet owners are most likely to pay for monthly subscription boxes for their pets. Next in line are Millennials followed by Gen-X and Baby Boomers. Studies show a connection between monthly savings, particularly on dog food.
Breakdown by Age Group
This chart shows the percentage of people more likely to purchase monthly subscription boxes according to age:
Pet industry trends show that younger people are more interested in committing to subscriptions for their dog. They enjoy the excitement of receiving monthly boxes and the happiness of their pets.
The pet market currently has about 7000 subscription box companies to choose from globally. Nearly 70% of these are located in the United Stated. Gartner, the Global Research and Advisory Company reports that by 2023, 75% of all companies selling directly to consumers will offer some kind of subscription serve.
3. $$$ Spent on Pets
In 2020, $103.6 Billion Was Spent on Pets in the US. According to the American Pet Products Association, Americans spent a whopping $99 billion in 2020 on pet food, supplies, and veterinary care.
4. Pet Ownership Numbers by Generation
Millennials currently top the list of pet owners in America at 32%. This is followed by Baby Boomers, Gen X-ers, and Gen Z. Baby Boomers are more likely to be retired and have more time and money for their pets.
Due to the pandemic, many people of every generation, are working from home at least part-time. This allows for more time with pets.
5. Millennials vs Pet Ownerships
Thirty-two Percent of Millennials Are Pet Owners. In fact, most millennials have at least one pet. Overall, millennials are more likely to have more pets.
Millennial pet parents are willing to fork out the cash for their pets. While younger millennials may still be in debt from post-secondary education, older millennials are in a better place to afford the expense of pets.
Millennials fully grasp the human-animal bond more than any other generation.
6. Baby Boomers vs Pet Ownership
Baby Boomers make up approximately 29% of pet owners in the United States. According to a report by Semanta, 56% of Baby Boomers consider their pets to be very close family members.
7. Soaring Global Pet Care Market
The global pet care market is expected to reach $358.62 billion by 2027.
The average annual growth rate within the pet market industry has steadily grown at a rate of 5.4% per year. This has been going on for around 20 years and is expected to continue rising steadily.
People who own dogs focus their pet budget to quality pet food. Food and treats are the biggest sellers, accounting for roughly $38.4 billion in sales.
Sales of pet food worldwide have reached over 102 billion US Dollars, an increase of almost ten billion dollars since 2019. (Statista)
8. Increased Pandemic Pet Spending
21% of pet owners report spending more on their pets during the Covid-19 pandemic. The American Pet Products Association projected a $99 billion dollar spending spree on all things pet related for 2020.
It appears they were right. In 2021, pet owners spent more on crates, beds, carriers, treats, harnesses, leashes and collars, toys, and shampoo.
70% of pet owners reportedly spent more on their pets during lockdown.
9. Pandemic Pet Adoption
Nearly 1 in 3 (30%) of Americans adopted a pet during the pandemic. It’s fair to say that loneliness, anxiety, and depression increased during global lock-downs. As a result, people began adopting pets in droves.
Of the people who adopted pets, 40% brought home a dog, 55% brought home a cat, and 5% went for both! While many went through rescue shelters for their pets, 25% purchased from a breeder.
10. Pet Adoption Statistics
Approximately 4.1 million shelter animals are adopted each year. That accounts for 2 million dogs and 2.1 million cats. Sadly, there are more animals entering shelters than there are going to forever homes.
92,000 shelter animals are euthanized every year, that accounts for 390,000 dogs and 530,000 cats. According to the ASPCA, roughly 810,000 animals who enter the shelter as strays are eventually returned to their owners.
11. Pet Rehoming Statistics
Pet “problems” account for 47% of dogs needing to be rehomed in the United States. The types of pet problems cited included:
- aggressive behaviors
- grew larger than expected
- health problems the owner couldn’t manage or afford
12. Pets Like Gifts Too
At least 1/2 of millennial pet owners by gifts for their pets at least once/month. Online sales continue grow as more online-only retailers dominate the pet e-commerce market.
The retail market for pets is a growing industry. In 2021, it’s estimated that American pet owners collectively spent upwards of $109.6 billion dollars on their pets. The breakdown of sales includes:
13. Reproduction reduction
Ten percent of American pet owners report putting off having children due to pet expenses.
There has been a significant change in population over the past decade. Younger adults are continuing to delay or dismiss the possibility of having children. Reasons cited include the increased cost of pet care, preferring pets over children, and fear of the future for children.
It seems our furry friends are winning bigtime in this debate. According to Statista, pets outnumber children with 84.6 million families owning dogs compared to 52.8 million families with children.
14. Pet Health Care Spending
As much as 45% of American pet owners spend the same amount of money on pet healthcare as they do their own.
Pet insurance companies find themselves competing with more and more insurance policies with better options.
The North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA) reported that gross written premiums continue to rise at an average annual growth rate of almost 24.2 percent .
Dog owners are savvy and recognize the need to offset future medical costs. The best way to do this is by starting their puppies on a comprehensive insurance package from the start.
15. Pet Real Estate
Space is considered top priority for pets. Young adults currently looking for homes are interested in larger spaces where their pets can safely roam.
According to the New York Times a recent study by the National Association of Realtors surveyed 15,000 randomly chosen resent home buys and sellers. The findings showed that home owners in the United States have their pet’s needs in mind when buying.
16. Uptick in Pet Clothing Sales
Sales of pet clothing grew by 8.11% in 2020. US pet market sales have skyrocketed from $50.96 billion in 2011 to a whopping $109.5 billion in 2021.
The pet market is seeing a huge uptick in pet clothing sales. In fact, surveys show that individuals are purchasing pet clothes and accessories to use in social media posts.
Pet industry trends show an increase in all-natural pet food sales as well.
Pet industry statistics report growth in all areas of dog-related merchandise, supplies, and medical care.
17. Pet Coats & Jacket Sales
Twenty-two percent (22%) of the clothing market for pets in coats and jackets. Product sales include designer brand styles for dogs of every size and breed.
Pet supplies continue to rank high on the list of items purchased by dog owners. Supplies include everything from bling collars to high fashion doggy footwear.
US Pet industry statistics reveal a boom in spending with revenue sales reaching 109.6 billion dollars.
18. Global Pet Clothing Statistics
The Pet Clothing market (globally) is worth 5.01 billion US. According to Fortune Business Insight the pet clothing market is projected to grow from 5.17 billion in 2021 to 7.0 billion in 2028.
People prefer luxurious outfits for their pets with shirts and tops holding a major market share.
19. Future Growth in Pet Clothing Spending
Global pet clothing market expected to reach 7.0 billion US by the year 2028. As mentioned above, dog owners can’t get enough of high-end shirts, hoodies, jackets, and accessories for their gorgeous dogs.
20. Increased Demand for Sustainable Dog Clothes
Shirts & tops for dogs continue to lead market sales, but with a catch. Consumers are looking for sustainable (recycled or plant-based fabric) for their pets.
Sales of pet products, particularly clothes, do not appear to be on the decline. In fact, experts suggest an upward trend in the billions of dollars over the next several years.
Online sales continue to skyrocket as consumers prefer ecommerce shopping.
21. Dry Dog Food Is Still In Style
Forty-four percent (44%) of dog owners buy dry food online. According to a sector analysis within the Government of Canada, all dog food categories continue to perform well. Dry dog food was the largest retail category. Sales were 2.1 billion in 2020 and is forecast to grow to 2.6 billion by 2025.
Globally, pet food sales are worth 87.08 billion US dollars as of 2019. Today, the numbers are staggeringly higher with a forecast of at least 90.4 billion by 2025.
The pet food market continues to revamp recipes amid demands for more all-natural, and “free from” product ingredients.
22. Leading Pet Specialty Chain
PetSmart is the leading pet specialty chain in North America as of March 2021. Pet spending is considered a “recession proof” economy and recent history seems to prove that. Even with pandemic fears and job less, dog owners continue to put their dogs’ health and happiness above all else.
Pet specialty stores continue to show profits, even during recession. There are approximately 18, 195 pet stores in the United States alone.
23. Global Dog Population
It’s estimated that there are at least 900 million dogs around the globe.
24. Dog Breed Stats
There are over 150 different dog breeds in the world.
25. Word-of-Mouth Pet Referral
Approximately 40% of dog owners learned about their pet through word-of-mouth.
26. Percentage of Dogs Purchased Through Breeders
It’s thought that 34% of dogs are purchased through breeders. More than 1 million puppies are born every year by legal breeders in the United States. Remember the days when people could buy puppies at retail stores? Those days are – for the most part – gone. Read the report by the Humane Society on the Worst Pet Retailers
27. Percentage of Dogs Rescued from Shelters
Roughly 23% of dogs are rescued from animal shelters in the United States. Approximately 6.3 million companion animals enter US animal shelters every year. Sadly, approximately 390,000 dogs are euthanized every year.
28. Pet Industry Sales
The national pet industry exceeded over $100 billion in sales for the first time
29. National Pet Spending Average
Americans spend an average of $22.1 billion on supplies, live animals, and over-the-counter medications. Dry dog food tops the list of sales along with specialty food products. These include breed-specific diets.
30. Veterinarian Care Spending Average
Americans spend on average $31.4 billion annually on vet care and product sales in 2020.
31. Retail Sales Growth in Pet Products
Retail sales grew by 6.7% from 2019 to 2020.
32. DIY Pet Training Statistics
Approximately 94% of dog owners train basic commands at home.
33. Dog Ownership in the USA
63.4 million US citizens own at least one dog.
34. Small Dog Ownership
48% of homes have a small dog.
35. Number of Puppy Mills in the USA
There are estimated to be approximately 10,000 (licensed and unlicensed) puppy mills in the US.
36. Annual Vet Care Spending
35.7% of annual spending goes to veterinarian care. Dog owners have said that they sometimes spend as much in health care for their dogs as they do for themselves.
37. Private Party Dog Sales
12% of dogs are obtained from another home or a private sale.
38. Percentage of Dog Owners Who Walk Their Dogs
78% of dog owners walk their dogs at least twice a day.
39. Dogs vs Family Members
Dogs are members of their family according to 95.5% of pet owners. As a result, they are given top consideration on major life events like whether to have children or move.
40. Improvement of Social Lives
41. Dog Ownership vs Better Socialization
Dog owners report easier pet socialization where off-leash parks are nearby.
42. Lowered chance of premature death
Research suggests that dog owners have a 33% less chance of dying prematurely than people with no pets.
43. Creature Comforts – A Study in Dogs and Anxiety Relief
Decrease Anxiety – A study in college students showed a 60% reduction in anxiety and loneliness.
44. Dogs That Heal Hearts
23% of dog owners are less likely to die from heart problems.
45. Dogs vs Less Risk of Premature Death
People with pets 20% less likely to die from other causes.
46. Lower Blood Pressure
The simple act of petting a dog or cat helps reduce blood pressure, at least temporarily. In fact, studies suggest the heart attack survivors with dogs tend to live longer than people without pets.
47. Percentage of People Afraid of Dogs
Three percent (3%) of people suffer from fear of dogs (cynophobia). In some cases, this fear is worsened by a prior bite or attack by a dog.
48. Cost of Doggy Biz Start Up
Dog Daycare Business Start-up Costs between $2000 and $10,000.
49. Number of Doggy Daycares in the US
There are approximately 4000 doggy daycares in the United States.
50. Number of people employed in pet care industry
There are approximately 200,000 people employed in the dog care industry in the US.
51. Dog Park Appreciation
91% of Americans appreciate dog parks. They provide socialization with other dog owners and a chance to socialize dogs with other animals.
52. Percent of Dog Park Socialization
53. Dog Pregnancy Facts & Figures
A dog’s pregnancy lasts 63 days from the time of conception
54. Physical Activity Requirements for Dogs
Dogs require 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity per day. The amount of activity will vary depending on the breed, age, and health of the dog.
55. Life Expectancy of Small Dogs
Dogs under 20 pounds have a life expectancy of 11 years.
56. Life Expectancy of Large Dogs
Dogs over 90 pounds have a life expectancy of 8 years.
57. Number of Adult Teeth in Dogs
Adult dogs have 32 permanent teeth.
58. Number of Teeth in Puppies
Puppies have 28 baby teeth.
59. Calorie Intake Requirements
Tiny dogs under 3 pounds may require only 1/3 cup of food per day.
60. Increased Calorie intake for large breed dogs.
Large breed dogs can eat up to 3.5 cups of dog food per day.
61. Average Doggy Nap Time
Dogs sleep an average of 12 – 14 hours per day. This will depend on the age of the dog and, sometimes, the breed.
62. Neutering Costs for Dogs
Neutering costs for a dog range from $50 to $250.
63. The Speed of a Dog
Dogs can run 15 – 20 miles per hour (average).
64. Statistics on the older dog in the world.
The oldest dog in the world lived to be 30.
65. Exotic pet ownership
About 50% of pets in the United States are considered exotic. These include fish, reptiles, birds, monkeys, and big cats.
Sadly, 75% of reptiles from pet shops die within the first year.
66. Dog Friendly workplaces
Business owners have been jumping on the trend of allowing pets in the workplace. That said, only 7% allow pets according to the Society of Human Resource Management
67. Pit bulls by the number
There are approximately 4.5 million pit bulls in the US. They make up about 6% of the dog population. It’s a myth that pit bulls have a locking jaw.
68. Spending Money for Social Media Posts
A survey conducted by Lending Tree identified 28% of the 1425 pet owners polled who spend money on items their pets can show off in social media posts. What are we talking about here? Well, Halloween costumes, fluffy scarves, bling, shirts, jackets, and coats top the list.
69. Forty-Five Percent (45%) Take on Debt for their Pet
The same survey conducted by Lending Tree found that a full 45% of pet owners admitted they would take on debt if they had to pay for an expensive (in this scenario, $1000) pet emergency
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Summary
It’s fair to say that North Americans love their dogs. The pet market industry continues to climb despite global uncertainty.
sources:
ASPCA – Facts About Pet Ownership in the US
fortunly.com Top Pet Statistics
Fortune Business Insights Pet Clothing Market
Statista Leading Pet Specialty Chains in North America
Pawsomeadvice.com Exotic Pet Statistics
