Americans and their pets

Americans love their pets. 56% of American households have cats and/or dogs. Whites have more pets than people of color.

With the number of children falling in the average American Family from 5 in 1850 to 2 today people have filled up the vacuum with cuddly things to love with pets.

Americans spend a lot of money on their dogs and cats. In 2006, it averaged about $316.00 per year.

Here are some interesting findings from the Gallup Poll done in 2006 on Americans and their pets:

Americans believe pets are good for their owners. Sixty percent of Americans think pet owners lead more satisfying lives than non-pet owners, while only 3% say pet owners lead less satisfying lives; one-third of Americans say it makes no difference or have no opinion.

Despite research showing that pets can be beneficial to seniors' health and wellbeing, dog ownership and cat ownership both decline with age. Also, pet ownership is lowest in the Eastern portion of the United States. And, non-whites are much less likely to own pets than are whites.

Walking the dog is more fun than it is work for many dog owners. Most dog owners (70%) take their dog for at least one walk per day, with the average duration of that walk being about 17 minutes. Dog owners seem to enjoy this time with their pets -- 85% of those who take their dog on daily walks say it is a pleasant experience for them, while 13% describe it as "a chore."

You can read a lot more at the Gallup poll done in 2006 by clicking here.