Pets

Newsweek -  A majority of 72 percent of pet owners responding to an exclusive Redfield & Wilton Strategies survey conducted on behalf of Newsweek said that the cost of looking after their pets has increased in the past year.  The survey was conducted among a sample population of 1,500 eligible voters in the U.S. between March 23 and 24, 2024. A majority of 65 percent of all respondents said they owned a pet at the time of the survey—a number that reflects the nationwide data reported by the American Pet Products Association , which writes that 66 percent of U.S. households (86.9 million homes) own a pet. A majority of these households (65.1 million homes) own a dog, followed by those who own a cat (46.5 million households). In 2022, the latest data made available by APPA, pet owners spent a total of $136.8 billion on their pets, up from $123.6 billion a year before.  On average, dog owners spend more on their pet (about $1,400 a year) than cat owners ($1,200), as per an APPA report, considering all possible expenses: vaccinations, bed, food, leashes, harnesses, collars, grooming supplies, training, boarding and passport.