💰 You’re Spending $30,000 on Your Dog. Here’s why…

The 2023 Pet Ownership Report

What does the above photo have to do with this report? Nothing. But look at that smileomgwhosagoodboyyyyy!

Market Watch just released their annual report on Pet Ownership in 2023. These figures were compiled by analyzing pet ownership and spending data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), American Pet Products Association (APPA), the U.S. Census Bureau proprietary sources and more to identify industry trends.

A lot of this makes sense EXCEPT for the findings on exactly WHO spends the most money on their pets. If you think those millennials making all those TikTok’s with their pets are the one’s spending the most on their pets, you’re wrong…

Key Pet Ownership Statistics in the U.S.

• In 2021, 63.8 million households had at least one pet in 2021, according to Census data.

• Based on Census data, dogs were more popular than cats, occupying 49 million households while cats occupied 28.2 million.

• According to the Bureau of Labor Studies, the average U.S. household spends $770 per year on their pets.

• According to survey data, the average U.S. dog owner spends about $2,524 per year or $210 monthly on recurring pet costs

• Pet-owning households in the West spend the most at $1,046 per year or 1.1% of their income, based on our survey.

How Much Does a Dog Cost?

• The average lifetime cost of owning a dog exceeds $30,000 in 13 states. The national average cost is $28,801.

• Purchasing a puppy costs an average of $1,038 in the U.S. However, the data does not specify if respondents purchased a puppy from a breeder or animal shelter.

• Puppy costs, including vaccines, spay or neuter surgery, preventive medicine and general supplies, total $1,037 on average.

• Boarding is the highest annual expense at $681 (assuming an avg. of 15 days per year).

• Grooming is the lowest annual expense at $193 per year.

• Most owners with large dogs spend over $446 per year on dog food alone.

• Oklahomans pay an average of $24,855 over their dog’s lifetime, the lowest of any state and nearly 14% lower than the national average.

Breakdown of Spending

• Overall pet spending has increased steadily over the past decade, with Americans spending an average of $460 in 2013 and $770 in 2021.

• Based on our research, the amount that Americans spent on “pets, toys, hobbies and playground equipment” increased by 54% from 2013 to 2021.

• According to the 2021-2022 APPA National Pet Owners Survey, 35% of Americans spent more on their pets in 2021 than in 2020.

• Online shopping for pets increased by almost 20% in 2021 compared to the previous year.

Who Spends the Most Money on Pets?

These stats are the most shocking. Boomers are spending more on their pets than Millennials?!!

• California is the most expensive state to own dogs in, with Californians spending an average of $35,452 over their dog’s lifetime.

• Women spend significantly more on pets compared to men ($575 versus $367 annually).

• In 2021, the Silent Generation and baby boomers spent more than 1% of their income on pets, followed by Generation Z (0.83%) and Generation X (0.81%). Millennials only spent 0.74% of their income on pets, making them the age group with the smallest pet expenditure.

• According to a proprietary 2023 survey of 1,000 American pet owners, 38% have gone into debt for their pets.

• Survey respondents reported that the largest pet expense is vet care (26.7%), pet insurance (20.4%) and food (19.0%).

TL:DR - Get your dad that dog he said he doesn’t want.

Study Proves Pets Make You A Better Person 👀

A recent study published in Scientific Reports has proven that having a pet makes you a better person. Is that really true? Honestly, I don’t think so, but the conclusions of the study show strong correlations between having a pet and “positive attitudes towards other non-pet animals, the biospheric environment, and other humans.” (Via News Medical)

In the study, researchers wanted to investigate whether having pets and interacting with them could promote more favorable attitudes in people towards non-pet animals, the environment, other humans, and their choices related to meat consumption.

A total of 619 pet owners and 450 non-pet owners residing in Canada were enrolled in the study, and were provided with a questionnaire-based survey.

The study found that having a stronger bond with a pet was directly correlated to increased positive interactions with animals, improved attitudes toward non-pet animals and humans, heightened environmental consciousness, a stronger belief in the interconnectedness of humans and the environment, reduced meat consumption, and a lower inclination towards social dominance.

Basically, if you or someone you know is a sh*tty person, get them a pet. Problem solved.

Good Boy Is…Also A Bad Boy??

“The Squeeze”: Dog News In 60 Seconds

• HEY NEW YORK, the Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade is Un-Cancelled!

• 💰 Post acquires another pet food company for $235 million.

• 🤮 FDA finds Salmonella in Darwin’s pet food AGAIN, company still refuses to recall product

• 🍎 Took Apple long enough! iOS 17 now recognizes your pets!

• 🐻 Dog rescued after being trapped in cave with bear for three days and now I need a Pixar movie about this friendship.

• 💎 Take a Closer Look at Drake's New 18-Carat Dog Bone Chain

• 👀 For the Kids: Here’s the Oct. 2023 Roblox Pets Trading Value List (you can adopt virtual pets, and they’re worth actual money)

• 📷 A photo worth a thousand smiles: This photographer ‘accidentally’ found a way to help hundreds of dogs get adopted!

• 🐶 For no reason at all, here is the preserved body of Balto, the sled dog that made the final 53-mile stretch through an Alaskan blizzard to deliver life-saving medicine to children.

• 🧀 Dog dubbed ‘Cheeto’ rescued after three days with head stuck in bucket of cheeseballs.

• ❤️ Here’s a NY Post article (lol) about the 4 ways to know your dog or cat loves you.

Today’s Last Laugh:

Me eating Chinese food:

@lifeofnui

Digging holes is one of my passions #freakyfriday #dayinthelife #diggingforgold #dogsoftiktok