When thinking about where to live, great dog owners most certainly consider their furkids in the big decision. You may want to be surrounded by other dog lovers, like yourself, or be in an area that caters to people with pets in addition to finding a dog-friendly neighborhood.
With that in mind, you might be surprised to learn which states have the most pet owners (YAY!) and which have the least (BOO!) from the American Veterinary Medical Foundation‘s U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook for 2012.
According to their survey, there are about 70 million pet dogs living in America, with 63% of dog owners considering their pets to be a member of the family, spending an average of $468 a year for their dog’s veterinary care. (Seems low, right? Yeah, we thought so, too.) It’s interesting to note, however, that on average, people spent more on their dog’s veterinary care in 2012 than horse owners spent on their horse’s vet care! Seems dog owners have deeper pockets when it comes to the care of our furkids!
But what we found most intriguing was their section which detailed pet ownership rates in each state. Vermont tops the charts with over 70% of its residents owning pets, while Washington D.C. trails behind with just under 22% pet ownership. The AVMA speculates that the type of residences most common in the state are a big factor. With plenty of rural and suburban dwellings, states like Vermont, New Mexico, and Maine are high in the number of household pets, while more urban states like D.C. and New York have fewer furry residents.
Where does your state rank in pet ownership? Check the lists below to see if you and your dog are one of many, or one in a million:
States with the Highest Pet Ownership:
Vermont – 70.8% pet owners
New Mexico – 67.6%
South Dakota – 65.6%
Oregon – 63.6%
Maine – 62.9%
Washington – 62.7%
Arkansas – 62.4%
West Virginia – 62.1%
Idaho – 62%
Wyoming – 61.8%
States with the Lowest Pet Ownership:
Washington D.C. – 21.9% pet owners
Massachusetts – 50.4%
New York – 50.6%
New Jersey – 50.7%
Utah – 51.2%
Nebraska – 51.3%
Illinois – 51.8%
Maryland – 52.3%
California – 52.9%
Minnesota – 53%
Rhode Island – 53%
I can understand why Washington DC has a lower pet population Many people (like congressmen do not live there all year long.
I would have thought Indiana would be there for some of the most pets. Seems we have a lot of and different pets.