keeping pets (dogs and cats) in homes: a three-phase ... · keeping pets (dogs and cats) in homes:...

Keeping Pets (Dogs and Cats) in Homes:A Three-Phase Retention Study

Phase I: Reasons for Not Owning a Dog or Cat

Keeping Pets (Dogs and Cats) in Homes:A Three-Phase Retention Study

Phase I: Reasons for Not Owning a Dog or Cat

Funding for Phase I provided by PetSmart Charities, Inc.

2 © 2012 American Humane Association.

Acknowledgments 3

Introduction 4

Research Purpose, Objectives and Methodology 5

Executive Summary of Findings 6

Conclusions 9

Promising Next Steps 10

In-Depth Data 11

Table of Contents


American Humane Association is grateful for funding from PetSmart Charities, Inc.to conduct this study: Keeping Pets (Dogs and Cats) In Homes – Phase I. Theprincipal investigators also want to thank the following individuals for their expertadvice with the design and survey instrument:

Ms. Sharon Brant, MBA, independent marketing research consultant

Dr. Brenda Bonnett, veterinarian and epidemiologist, Bonnett Consulting

Dr. M.D. Salman, veterinarian and epidemiologist, Colorado State University

Ms. Carol Moulton, Moulton Consulting

Ms. Katrina Briddell, American Humane Association

Acknowledgments

Every year, 3 to 4 million healthy, adoptable pets are euthanized at our nation’sshelters. American Humane Association and the entire animal welfare communityare forced to question: What needs to be done for these animals to be adopted? And what can be done to ensure that those who are adopted stay with their newfamilies? American Humane Association’s Animal Welfare Research Instituteembarked on a multi-phase study in 2012 to better understand what is preventingpeople from adopting these animals and, more importantly, to learn the mosteffective strategies to ensure that newly adopted pets stay with their families,preventing relinquishment to shelters.

By learning more about the barriers to pet ownership and lifelong retention, we cantake measured steps to change minds, change policies, and change activities to helpget more of these beautiful animals out of shelters and off the streets into the arms of loving families.

With generous support from PetSmart Charities, Inc., American HumaneAssociation’s Animal Welfare Research Institute has completed the first phase of thiseffort, which focuses on better understanding why more than half of U.S.households do not currently own a dog or a cat.

According to the American Pet Products Association’s National Pet Owners Survey(2011-2012), 38.9 million U.S. households own a cat and 46.3 million U.S.households own a dog. With the total number of U.S. households estimated at117.5 million1, there are many homes without pets. Understanding the reasons forpet ownership and relinquishment is crucial for developing strategies to reduce thenumber of homeless pets and euthanasia rates in our nation.

For more than 135 years, American Humane Association has succeeded inprotecting America’s children, pets, farm animals, and animal actors from cruelty,abuse, and neglect. Everything the organization does is rooted in science so that ouractions, policies, and outreach may do the most good. In this ever-changing world,new threats to our most vulnerable constantly emerge, reinforcing the need forconstant evaluation to protect our most precious treasures. Through projects such as this, American Humane Association and our Animal Welfare Research Institutehope to advance our knowledge of the challenges facing the wellness, welfare andwell-being of the creatures around us and to strengthen the remarkable physical and emotional bond between human beings and the animals that share and enrichour world.

Robin R. Ganzert, PhD Patricia N. Olson, DVM, PhDPresident and Chief Executive Officer Chief Veterinary Advisor

1 U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Statistical Abstract

“By learning moreabout the barriers topet ownership andlifelong retention, wecan take measuredsteps to change minds,change policies, andchange activities tohelp get more of thesebeautiful animals outof shelters and off thestreets into the arms ofloving families.”


Introduction

Research Purpose:

Phase I of the Keeping Pets (Dogs and Cats) in Homes Retention Study was structured to discern the reasons why so manyAmericans do not have a dog or cat in their homes.

Phase II will research how many dogs and cats acquired from a sampling of shelters and animal control agencies still remain intheir new homes six months following adoption, and what happened to those pets who are no longer in those homes.

Phase III will test practical interventional strategies for improving retention rates following the acquisition of a new pet.

Objectives of Phase I:

• Survey adults in U.S. households who have never owned a dog or a cat as an adult• Survey adults in U.S. households who have previously owned a dog or cat, but currently do not own one• Identify length of time previous owners had owned previous pet• Identify reason(s) why previous owners no longer have previous pet• Identify reason(s) why previous owners have not acquired a new pet• Identify reason(s) why non-pet owners do not have a cat or a dog• Determine differences in ownership of cats/dogs based on income, gender, age, and geography• Determine likelihood of future pet ownership, and if likely, identify sources of acquisition

Methodology:

An online survey was created and administered to 1500 respondents in February 2012. Surveys were created and fielded forthree groups of consumers who:1. Never owned a dog or cat as an adult, “non-pet owners” (n=500)2. Previously owned a cat but not within past 12 months (n=500)3. Previously owned a dog but not within past 12 months (n=500)

Age categories for previous owners combined 18-34 year olds in order to have enough of a sample to perform significance testing.No non-owner age categories were combined. Respondents completed each survey with a margin of error +/- 4.4 percent.

5

Overview

Previous Ownership Findings:

The respondents who had previously owned a dog or cat in the past providedinsights about their previous experience with pets, how they obtained them, andwhat happened to those companion animals:

• Obtaining the animal from family, a friend, or a neighbor was the mostcommon method of acquisition for previous dog owners (38%) and cat owners(41 percent).

• About one-fourth of previous dog owners obtained their prior pet from a shelteror rescue organization (22%) and four percent were acquired as strays; for catowners, 18 percent obtained their prior pet from a shelter or rescue organizationand approximately one-fourth were acquired as strays (22%).

• More than 40 percent of households of previous owners have not had a dog orcat for more than five years.

• The majority of previous dog owners (81%) and cat owners (73%) no longerhave a dog or cat because it died or was euthanized; sixteen percent of dogowners gave away their pet as did similar numbers of cat owners (17%). Ofthose who gave up their animals, the most common reason cited was that thelandlord or place of residence did not allow dogs or cats. This was true for29 percent of dog owners and 21 percent of cat owners.


Executive Summary of Findings

“Of those who gave up their animals, themost common reasoncited was that thelandlord or place ofresidence did not allowdogs or cats.”


Reasons for Non-Ownership:

• Almost half (49%) of respondents who have never owned a pet as an adult had adog or cat as a child.

• The costs associated with pet ownership (e.g., veterinary care, food, and cleaningsupplies, among others) are cited as prohibitive for many. For previous dogowners, veterinary costs are the top reason (30%) for not currently owning adog, followed by “general costs” (29%). Among cat owners these numbers were25 percent and 24 percent, respectively.

• For both previous dog and cat owners, travel away from home is a barrier toownership, with respondents citing that they do not wish to neglect an animal(26% of dog owners, 28% of cat owners).

• One-fourth of previous cat owners cited cleaning up after the animal as a reasonfor not owning a cat. One in six (16%) said allergies played a role in not owninganother cat.

• Grief over the loss of a prior pet appeared to be a deterrent to future ownership.One in five (20%) of previous dog owners and one in six (17%) of their feline-owning counterparts reported to be still grieving the loss of a prior pet.

• Those who have never had a dog or cat in their households gave reasons for notconsidering ownership: The top three reasons cited for never owning a dog arelifestyle (30%), cleaning up after them (30%), and the general expense ofmaintaining a pet (29%). Only 12 percent of non-owners indicated a generaldislike of dogs. However, more than one in three (35%) said they simply do notlike cats. Nearly as many (29%) reported to not like the smell of a litter box.

• Seniors (those 65 or older) as a whole did not seem very receptive to future petownership in this survey. Among previous dog owners, 59 percent would notconsider a dog; 66 percent of previous cat owners would not consider anothercat. Among those who had never owned an animal, the figures were evenbleaker: An overwhelming 90 percent of seniors said they would not considergetting a dog. Ninety-four percent are not open to cat ownership.

“The costs associatedwith pet ownership(e.g., veterinary care,food, and cleaningsupplies, among others)are cited as prohibitivefor many.”


Profiles of Those Likely to Consider a Dog or Cat:

Many people, fortunately, are receptive to owning a pet, whether they previously hadone or not, although the likelihood is higher they will choose a dog over a cat.

• Among those who had once owned dogs, 45 percent would consider obtaininganother, while only 34 percent of previous cat owners were receptive to futurecat ownership.

• Even among those who had never owned a dog or cat, 25 percent said theywould probably or definitely consider a dog; 10 percent of respondentsindicated that they would probably or definitely consider obtaining a cat.

• The demographics of potential owners helped identify some interestingdifferentiators that affect the likelihood to bring an animal into their homes:a. Potential dog owners are more likely to have three or more adults in their

household (71 percent of previous dog owners and 52 percent of non-owners). b. Potential cat owners live in a variety of household sizes. Sixty percent of

previous cat owners considering another cat live in single-adult households.Those who did not previously own a cat and would consider one are mostlikely to live in households with three or more adults (32%).

c. Potential dog owners are more likely to have children in the household(56%) vs. potential cat owners (36%).

d. Among previous cat owners, those most likely to consider another cat hadincomes between $50,000 and $74,999; among non-owners considering acat, the highest income bracket ($150,000+) is the most likely to consider acat. Potential dog owners do not vary significantly by income but the$150,000+ bracket for both previous dog owners and non-owners tends tobe the most likely to obtain a dog.

e. The age group with the greatest likelihood of obtaining a cat is those who inthe 18-34 range. Potential dog owners also peak at 18 to 34 years old withthe likelihood to consider a dog decreasing directly as age increases.

f. Current non-owners who had a dog as a childhood pet are more likely toconsider a dog compared to those who did not have a dog as a child.However, the same can’t be said for non-owners who had a cat as achildhood pet. They are no more likely to consider a cat than those whogrew up without one.

Likelihood of Adopting a Shelter Animal:

• If a pet is to be considered in the future, adoption from a shelter or rescueorganization was cited as the number-one option among respondents: 64percent of prospective owners who previously owned dogs indicated that theywould adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue organization, and 56 percent ofprospective owners who previously owned a cat indicated they would adopt a catfrom a shelter or rescue organization. These percentages are dramatically higherthan those given when respondents listed the source of their prior pet, with only22 percent of dogs and 18 percent of cats coming from a shelter.

• Gratifyingly, those who have not previously owned pets also preferred the shelteror rescue organization route for obtaining a future dog (51%) or cat (42%).

“Potential dog ownersare more likely to have children in the household (56%)vs. potential cat owners (36%).”


Five distinct conclusions may be drawn as result of the Phase I survey:

1. Dogs are more likely to be considered as a future pet than cats. Previous dogowners were more likely to consider adding a dog to their household whileprevious cat owners were not as likely to consider adding another cat to theirfamily. In addition, those who have never owned a dog or cat as an adult saythey are more likely to consider owning a dog rather than a cat (this is especiallytrue if they had a dog as a childhood pet vs. if they had a cat as a childhood pet).

2. Fewer owners acquired their prior pet from shelters or rescue organizations thanfrom friends, family, and neighbors. In dramatic contrast, our respondents nowsay they are most likely to procure any future pets through humane groups,shelters, and rescue organizations.

3. The leading barriers preventing current ownership are cost, lifestyle, cleanup,and grief over the loss of a beloved pet. For previous dog and cat owners, lifestyleissues include a lack of time to care for the animal and travel away from home;the expenses of veterinary and general care also inhibit future ownership. Manyprevious owners of dogs and cats indicated that they were still grieving the lossof their pet, and this was a factor in their not obtaining another animal. Thisgrief was noted even though twelve months or longer had passed since the priorpet had left the family. More than one-third of non-owners noted a generaldislike of cats as the main reason why they do not currently own one; only12 percent of non-owners indicated a general dislike of dogs.

4. Those who owned a dog or cat within the last five years, but currently do notown one, were more likely to consider adding another dog or cat to theirhousehold. Beyond this five-year mark, however, the likelihood of pet ownershipdrops sharply as people cited lifestyles that were no longer conducive to supporta dog or cat in the household. Interestingly, older people were not as receptive toadding a dog or cat to their homes despite research showing the health andemotional benefits of pet ownership (including increased exercise andcompanionship).

5. There are marked demographic differences between those who would considerowning a dog and those owning a cat, suggesting different adoption andretention strategies.

“In dramatic contrast,our respondents nowsay they are most likelyto procure any futurepets through humanegroups, shelters, andrescue organizations.”

Conclusions


Phase I of the study identified several issues to address in future phases whenconsidering how to support future pet owners and lower barriers to ownership. The findings suggest that some of the more promising avenues warranting additionalwork include:

1. Supporting younger future cat owners (18 to 34 years)2. Continuing to assess negative attitudes toward cats, especially among people

who have never owned a cat3. Understanding that ongoing grief is a barrier to new pet ownership and identify

methods to help people work through grief, celebrate the prior pet, and reenterthe ownership pool

4. Understanding that more future owners may be adopting pets from shelters andrescue agencies and offering support at this point of acquisition

5. Working with broad and diverse segments of society to reduce existing barriersto ownership, such as housing restrictions and veterinary/general expenses

There are still significant hurdles to overcome in helping to get more of thesehealthy, adoptable animals out of the nation’s shelters and into the loving arms ofpeople looking to add a new member to their family. Using the data gathered andthe work to be done in future phases of this study, we hope over time to decrease pethomelessness and relinquishment to the nation’s shelters. By learning more aboutreasons people relinquish their pets and by testing interventional strategies to preventthis from happening, more dogs and cats can live out their lives in forever homes.

“By learning moreabout reasons peoplerelinquish their petsand by testinginterventionalstrategies to preventthis from happening,more dogs and cats canlive out their lives inforever homes.”

Promising Next Steps in Raising Levels of Pet Ownership

Findings – Previous Pet Ownership


• More than 40% of households without a cat or dog have not had a cat or dog for more than5 years (NOTE: Survey did not include households that had a cat or dog within the past year)

Previous Dog/Cat Ownership*

1-2 years

26%

3-5 years

31%

>5 years

43%

1-2 years

29%

3-5 years

29%

>5 years

42%

How long has it been since a dog was living in your household?

n=500

How long has it been since a cat was living in your household?


n=500

* Amongst U.S. households currently without a cat or dog for more than 12 months.

• Nearly half (49%) of households with people never owning a dog or cat as adults grew up with a dog orcat as children

Childhood Dog/Cat Ownership*

Which of the following types of pets did your family own when you were growing up?

* Amongst U.S. households never owning a cat or dog as an adult.


Both cats& dogs

17%

Other Pets

13% Dogs

29%No pets

38%

Cats

3%

n=501

Origin of Previous Dog/Cat

10

2%

1%

3%

6%

4%

9%

4%

22%

16%

2%

2%

41%

6%

2%

2%

38%

22%

18%

Don’t Know

Other

Ad

Stray

Adopted from Pet Store

Breeder

Purchase from Pet Store

Family/Friend/Neighbor

Shelter/Rescue Organization

0 20 4030DogCat

• Most previous owners obtained their previous dog/cat from a family member, friend, or neighbor

• The second most common way that previous owners obtained their pets was: Cats: Stray (22%) Dogs: Shelter/Rescue organization (22%)

From where did you obtain your most recent dog/cat?


40

20

60

0< 6 Months 6 Months-1 Year 1-2 Years

2%1% 2% 3%6%5%

13%14%

24% 24%

49%

53%

3%1%

2-5 Years 5-10 Years >10 Years Don’t Know

DogCat

Length of Ownership

• Nearly half of cat owners and more than half of dog owners had their pet for 10 years or more

• Nearly one-quarter of dog/cat owners had their pet for 5 to 10 years

Approximately how long did the dog/cat live in your household?


What Happened to Previous Dog/Cat?

• The majority of dogs/cats either died or were euthanized by owners

• 10% of dogs and 12% of cats were given away or sold to friends or family members

Why does the dog/cat no longer live in your household?


20

2%

2%

2%

1%

10%

12%

2%

81%

4%

4%

8%

73%

Given Away/Sold to Stranger

Other

Given Away/Sold to Friend/Family

Lost/Ran Away

Died/Euthanized

Given or Returnedto Shelter

0 40 8060DogCat

100

Reasons for Giving Away Dog/Cat

• The most common reason cited to give away their cat (21%) or dog (29%) was because their landlord or place of residence did not allow dogs/cats.

• The second most common reason cited for giving away previous pets:• Cats: Allergies (11%)• Dogs:

• Not enough time (10%)• Divorce/Death (10%)• Behavior issues (10%) Chewing/destructive behavior and excessive barking are behavior issues with 24% of the dogs (Note small sample size of 9)

Why was your dog/cat returned, given away or sold? (main reason)


Changed Mind

10 20

Not Allowed

Family Health

Death/Divorce

General Expense

Vet Expenses

Not Enough Time

Behavior Issues

Pet’s Health

0 30Dog (n=94)Cat (n=105)

Allergic to Cat/Dog

Family Member

Issues with Children

0%3%

4%1%

10%8%

5%

29%

1%1%

5%

21%

10%

4%2%

3%

10%8%

2%11%

2%3%

1%7%


Findings – Potential Ownership

Reasons for Not Currently Owning Dog/Cat (Previous Owners)

• The main reasons previous dog owners do not currently own a dog are: • Veterinarian costs (30%) • General expenses (29%)• No time (27%)• Travel too much (26%)

• Top reasons why previous cat owners do not currently own a cat are:• Travel too much (28%)• Cleaning up (25%)• Veterinarian costs (25%)• General expenses (24%)

• 20% of previous dog owners and 17% of previous cat owners are still grieving the loss of their previous pet

Top reasons why you currently do not have a dog/cat living in your household? (select up to three)


10 20

Time to Find One

Still Looking

Damage

Cleaning Up

No Time

Training

Family MembersDo Not Like

Vet Expenses

Not Allowed

0 30

Dog (n-500) Cat (n-500)

General Expense

Travel

Allergies

11%7%

11%4%

15%25%

15%

12%

16%5%

10%

11%

27%

4%12%

21%

29%24%

1%4%

11%12%

20%17%Still Grieving

Bad Experience

30%25%

28%26%

• The main reasons non-pet owners do not own a cat is they “Just don’t like them” (35%) followed by “Litter box smell” (29%)

• Non-pet owners do not currently own a dog due mainly to:• Lifestyle (30%)• Cleaning up e.g., shedding (30%)• General expense (29%)

3%1%

4%1%

11%12%

30%29%

6%4%

13%8%

25%16%

22%30%

35%12%

24%18%

17%29%

3%3%

17%11%

8%18%

15%10%

Cleaning/Litterbox

Damage

Time to Find One

Searching for theRight One

Afraid

Training

No Time

Don’t Like

Vet Expenses

Lifestyle

General Expense

Bad Experience

Travel

Allergies

Not Allowed

0 10 20 30

Dog (n-500) Cat (n-500)

Reasons for Not Currently Owning Dog/Cat (Non-Owners*)

Top reasons why you currently do not have a dog/cat living in your household? (select up to three)


* Non-owners are respondents who have never owned a dog/cat as an adult

30

10

20

0Definitely Would Probably Would Probably Would Not Definitely Would Not Undecided

13%

21%

26%

29%

12%

Likelihood to Consider a Cat (Previous Owners)

How likely are you to consider having a cat as a household pet?

• Approximately one-third (34%) of previous cat owners would consider having another cat as a household pet

• Nearly two-thirds (64%) of previous cat owners who would consider getting another cat would most likely obtain one from an animal shelter or rescue organization

• This is an increase over the 18% who previously obtained their cat from a shelter or rescue organization

From where would you most likely obtain a cat?

n=500

0 20 40 60

Breeder

Stray

Ad

Don’t Know





19%

64%

1%

4%

2%

4%

1%

6%


n=170

30

10

20

0Definitely Would Probably Would Probably Would not Definitely Would Not Undecided

21%24%

22%20%

13%

Likelihood to Consider a Dog (Previous Owners)

How likely are you to consider having a dog as a household pet?

From where would you most likely obtain a dog?

0 20 40 60

Breeder

Stray

Ad

Don’t Know





17%

56%

1%

0%

13%

3%

1%

8%

• Nearly half (45%) of previous dog owners would consider having another dog as a household pet

• More than half (56%) of previous dog owners who would consider getting another dog would most likely obtain one from an animal shelter or rescue organization

• This is an increase over the 22% who previously obtained their dog from a shelter or rescue organization


n=500

n=225

• One-quarter of non-pet owners would consider having a dog as a household pet• 10% of non-pet owners would consider having a cat as a household pet, however, the majority (61%) definitely would NOT consider a cat in the future

• Shelters and rescue organizations are the most likely place that a non-pet owner would turn to for a dog (51%) or cat (42%)


60

20

40

0Definitely Would Probably Would Probably Would Not Definitely Would Not Undecided

DogCat

3%9% 7%

16% 16%

61%

43%

11%16%

18%

Likelihood to Consider a Dog/Cat (Non-Owners*)

How likely are you to consider having a dog/cat as a household pet?

From where would you most likely obtain a dog/cat?


10 30 500

20%17%

3%2%

0%0%

6%10%

6%

5%4%

7%19%

51%42%

6%

Dog (n=170) Cat (n=52)Breeder

Stray

Ad

Don’t Know





n=500


Detailed Analysis by Demographics of Previous Dog/Cat Owners

Detailed Analysis by Demographics of Previous Dog Owners

Most Likely to Consider a Dog• Marital Status: Single/never married and divorced respondents

• Age: Likeliness to consider a dog is negatively correlated with age (the younger are more likely toconsider a dog than the older)

• Gender: No significant difference

• Adults in Household: Households with three or more adults

• Children in Household: Households with children

• Income: No significant difference

• Region: Respondents living in the Western U.S. region

• Urban/Suburban/Rural: No significant difference

• Previous Ownership: Respondents who last owned a dog within the past five years

Detailed Analysis by Demographics of Previous Cat Owners

Most Likely to Consider a Cat• Marital Status: Single/never married respondents

• Age: 18 to 34 year olds


• Adults in Household: People who live alone

• Children in Household: No significant difference

• Income: Respondents with incomes between $50,000 to $74,999

• Region: Respondents living in the Midwest, Northeast, Southwest, and Western regions of theU.S. are more likely to consider a cat


• Previous Ownership: Previous cat owners who owned a cat less than five years ago or who had acat for two years or longer


Likelihood to Consider a Dog/Cat by Marital Status

• Singles are more likely to consider a cat in the future and also responded the highest in being “uncertain”• Married respondents are less likely to consider a cat in the future

Previous Dog Owner


• Single and divorced respondents are more likely to consider a dog in the future• Widowed respondents are less likely to consider a dog in the future

Previous Cat Owner



DeÞnitely/Probably Would Maybe DeÞnitely/Probably Would Not

0%

20%

40%

60%

45% 44%

60%

52%

26%

13% 12%

16% 16%14%

42%44%

25%

32%

60%

Total Sample

Married

Single

Divorced

Widowed


0%

20%

40%

60%

34%

30%

46%

37% 38%

12%8%

25%

11%8%

54%

62%

29%

52%54%

Total Sample

Married

Single

Divorced

Widowed

n=500

n=500

Likelihood to Consider a Dog/Cat by Age

• 18 to 34 year olds are somewhat more likely to consider a cat compared to the older age groups

Previous Dog Owner


• Likelihood to consider a dog in the future is correlated to age with young respondents being significantly more likely• Respondents over 65 are significantly less likely to consider a dog

Previous Cat Owner



DeÞnitely/Probably Would Maybe DeÞnitely/Probably Would Not0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

45%

70%

63%

56%

47%

29%

13%

20%

11%16%

11% 12%

42%

10%

25%28%

43%

59%

Total Sample

18 to 34

35 t0 44

45 to 54

55 to 64

65+


20%

40%

60%

80%

34%

49%

40%34%

38%

26%

12%

20%14% 16%

6%8%

54%

31%

46%50%

56%

66%

Total Sample

18 to 34

35 t0 44

45 to 54

55 to 64

65+

n=500

n=500

Likelihood to Consider a Dog/Cat by Income

• Respondents with incomes between $50,000 and $74,999 are significantly more likely to consider a cat • Those with incomes between $100,000 and $149,999 are less likely to consider a cat

Previous Dog Owner


• There are no significant differences in likelihood to consider a dog based on income

Previous Cat Owner




60%

40%

20%

0%

45%

49%46% 46% 47%

53%

57%

13%

9%

15%13%

7%9%

7%

42% 42%40% 41%

46%

38%36%

Total Sample

< $25K

$25-$49K

$50-$74K

$75-$99K

$100-$149K

$150K+


60%

40%

20%

0%

34% 35%

29%

45%

35%

23%

35%

12%16%

13%

7%9% 9%

20%

54%

50%

58%

48%

55%

68%

45%

Total Sample

< $25K

$25-$49K

$50-$74K

$75-$99K

$100-$149K

$150K+

n=500

n=500

Likelihood to Consider a Dog/Cat by Number of Adults in the Household

• Respondents with 1 adult living in the household are significantly more likely to consider a cat • Households with 2 adults are less likely than single member households to consider a cat

• Respondents with 3 or more adults in the household are significantly more likely to consider a dog



0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

34%

46%

30% 33%

25%

12%14%

7%

18%

29%

54%

40%

63%

49%46%

Total Sample

1

2

3

4+


0%

20%

40%

60%

45%48%

41%

55%

13%10%

14%16%

42%43%

45%

28%

Total Sample

1

2

3+

n=500

n=500

Previous Dog Owner


Previous Cat Owner


Likelihood to Consider a Dog/Cat by Children in the Household

• There are no significant differences to consider a cat based on children in the household

• Households with children are significantly more likely to consider a dog compared to households without children



0%

20%

40%

60%

48%43%

56%

10%12%

16%

43%45%

28%

Total Sample

No Children

Children in Household


0%

20%

40%

60%

34% 34%36%

12% 11% 11%

54%55%

54%Total Sample

No Children


n=500

n=500

Previous Cat Owner


Previous Dog Owner


Likelihood to Consider a Dog/Cat by U.S. Region*

• Respondents living in the Southeast region of the U.S. are less likely than the other regions to consider a cat

• Respondents living in the Western region of the U.S. are significantly more likely to consider a dog



0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

34% 35%38%

23%

40% 40%

12%10%

7%

17%

11%13%

54% 55% 55%

61%

48% 48%

Total Sample

Midwest

Northeast

Southeast

Southwest

West


0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

45%

39%

45%40%

49%

60%

13%16%

10%14%

18%

8%

42%45% 45% 46%

34% 32%

Total Sample

Midwest

Northeast

Southeast

Southwest

West

n=500

n=500

Previous Dog Owner


Previous Cat Owner


* Please see page 46 for definitions of each region

Likelihood to Consider a Dog/Cat by Length of Time Since Owning a Dog/Cat

• Respondents who recently owned a cat are more likely to consider one with the most likely group being the respondents who owned a cat 1 to 2 years ago

• Respondents who last owned a dog within the past 5 years are more likely to consider a dog



0%

20%

40%

60%

45%

58%

53%

32%

13%16%

11% 11%

42%

26%

36%

58%Total Sample

1 to 2 Years Ago

3 to 5 Years Ago

More than 5 Years Ago


0%

40%

60%

80%

20%

34%

47%

40%

22%

12%15%

10%8%

54%

38%

50%

70%

Total Sample

1 to 2 Years Ago

3 to 5 Years Ago

More than 5 Years Ago

Previous Cat Owner


Previous Dog Owner


n=500

n=500

Likelihood to Consider a Dog/Cat by Length of Previous Pet Ownership

• Respondents who had a cat for 2 years or longer are significantly more likely to consider a cat

• There are no significant differences in likelihood to consider a dog based on length of previous ownership



0%

20%

40%

60%

45%

52%

47%

43%

13%

17% 16%13%

42%

30%

37%

44%45%

11%

43%

Total Sample

1 to Less than 2

2 to Less than 5

5 to Less than 10

10+ Years


0%

20%

40%

80%

60%

34%

19%

32% 34%

12%10% 11%

9%

54%

71%

57% 56%

39%

11%

50%

Total Sample

1 to Less than 2

2 to Less than 5

5 to Less than 10

10+ Years

Previous Cat Owner


Previous Dog Owner


n=500

n=500


Detailed Analysis by Demographics of Non-Pet Owners

Detailed Analysis by Demographics of Non-Pet Owners*

Most Likely to Consider a Dog• Childhood Pet: Those who had a dog or other pets (non-cat/dog) as a childhood pet are more

likely to consider a dog while those who had a cat are less likely

• Marital Status: Single/never married

• Age: Less than 65




• Income: Respondents with incomes of <$75,000 and ≥$100,000 are most likely

• Region: Respondents living in the Western and Northeast regions are more likely to consider adog compared to respondents living in the Southwest


Most Likely to Consider a Cat• Childhood Pet: Those who had a dog as a childhood pet are less likely to consider a cat while

those who had a cat as a childhood pet are not any more or less likely to consider a cat

• Marital Status: Single/never married

• Age: 18 to 44 year olds




• Income: Respondents with incomes of <$75,000 and ≥$100,000 are most likely

• Region: Respondents living in the Northeast or West are more likely compared to those living inthe Southwest




Likelihood to Consider a Dog/Cat - Non-Pet Owners vs. Childhood Owners

• Respondents who had a dog as a childhood pet are less likely to consider a cat in the future• Respondents who had a cat as a childhood pet are no more or less likely to consider a cat in the future

• Respondents who had a dog as a childhood pet or other childhood pets (not dog/cat) are significantly more likely to consider a dog in the future• Respondents who had a cat as a childhood pet are significantly less likely to consider a dog in the future



0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

25%

31%

13%16%

30%

16%11%

6%

20%

26%

59% 58%

81%

64%

44%

Total Sample

Childhood Dog

Childhood Cat

Neither Dog/Cat

Other Pet


0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

10% 9%15%

8%

15%11%

3%

11%16% 17%

79%

88%

75% 77%

68%

Total Sample

Childhood Dog

Childhood Cat

Neither Dog/Cat

Other Pet



n=501*

n=501*

*There were 501 respondents to this question

Likelihood to Consider a Dog/Cat by Marital Status

• Singles responded the highest in being “uncertain”• Married, divorced or widowed respondents are less likely to consider a cat in the future

• Single respondents are significantly more likely to consider a dog in the future



0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

25%23%

33%

12%17% 16% 13%

21% 22%

4%

59%64%

46%

65%

79%

Total Sample

Married

Single

Divorced

Widowed


0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

10% 11%14%

0%4%

11% 9%

18%

4% 4%

79%81%

68%

96%92%Total Sample

Married

Single

Divorced

Widowed

Non-Owners


Non-Owners


n=500

n=500

Likelihood to Consider a Dog/Cat by Age

• 18 to 44 year olds are more likely to consider a cat compared to the older age groups

• Respondents over 65 are significantly less likely to consider a dog



20%

40%

60%

80%

25%

42%

30% 31%

23% 25%

5%

16%

22% 22%18% 17%

13%

5%

59%

37%

49% 51%

60% 62%

90%Total Sample

18 to 24

25 t0 34

35 to 44

45 to 54

55 to 64

65+


20%

40%

60%

80%

10%

22%

17%13%

3% 2% 3%

11%

22%

13% 12% 12%

4% 3%

79%

57%

70%75%

85%

93% 94%

Total Sample

18 to 24

25 t0 34

35 to 44

45 to 54

55 to 64

65+

Non-Owners


Non-Owners


n=500

n=500

Likelihood to Consider a Dog/Cat by Income

• Respondents with incomes between $75,000 and $149,999 are less likely to consider a cat

• Respondents with incomes between $75,000 and $99,999 are less likely to consider a dog



0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

25%

31%27% 26%

15%19%

36%

16%

22%

12%14%

7%

22%

11%

59%

47%

61% 61%

7788%%78%

59%54%

Total Sample

< $25K

$25-$49K

$50-$74K

$75-$99K

$100-$149K

$150K+


0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

10%14%

9% 10%

2%5%

25%

11%

18%

8%12%

2% 3%

11%

79%

68%

83%

78%

96%92%

64%

Total Sample

< $25K

$25-$49K

$50-$74K

$75-$99K

$100-$149K

$150K+

Non-Owners


Non-Owners


n=500

n=500

Likelihood to Consider a Dog/Cat by Number of Adults in the Household

• Respondents with three or more adults living in the household are more likely to consider a cat

• Respondents with three or more adults in the household are more likely to consider a dog



0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

25%

19%24%

34%

16%20%

12%

18%

59%61%

65%

48%

Total Sample

1

2

3+


0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

10%5%

10%

19%

11%15%

6%

13%

79% 80%84%

68%

Total Sample

1

2

3+

Non-Owners


Non-Owners


n=500

n=500

Likelihood to Consider a Dog/Cat by Children in the Household

• Households with children are significantly more likely to consider a cat compared to households without children

• Households with children are significantly more likely to consider a dog compared to households without children



0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

10%8%

15%11% 10% 10%

79%81%

75%

Total Sample

No Children



0%

20%

40%

60%

25%

20%

35%

16%15%

18%

59%

65%

47%

Total Sample

No Children


Non-Owners


Non-Owners


n=500

n=500

Likelihood to Consider a Dog/Cat by U.S. Region

• Respondents living in the Southwest region of the U.S. are less likely than those living in the Northeast or West

• Respondents living in the Northeast and Western regions of the U.S. are significantly more likely to consider a dog compared to the Southwest region



0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

25%21%

31%

23%

15%

30%

16% 17%

12%

19%

13%17%

59%

63%

57% 58%

72%

53%

Total Sample

Midwest

Northeast

Southeast

Southwest

West


0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

10%7%

16%

9% 8%11% 11%

9%12%

10%

4%

17%

79%83%

72%

81%

89%

73%

Total Sample

Midwest

Northeast

Southeast

Southwest

West

Non-Owners


Non-Owners


n=500

n=500


Respondent Demographics

Respondent Characteristics - Previous Cat Owners


Male

45%

Female

55%

Married

61%

Single, never Married

17%

Divorced orSeparated

15%

Widowed

7%

30

10

20

018-24

2%

40

25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65 or Older

9%13%

21%19%

36%

Gender Marital Status

n=500

Age

Caucasian

94%

Asian

1%Other

1%Hispanic

2%AfricanAmerican

2%

Ethnicity

30

10

20

0<$25K $25-50K $50-75K $75-100K $100-149K $150K+ N/A

17%

12%

4%

9%

13%

22%22%


None

85%

1

7%

3

1%2

7%

House

70%Condo

7%

Apartment

13%

Townhouse

4%Other

3%Duplex

3%



n=500

Income

1

27%

22

58%

3

10%4

4%5+

1%Adults in Household

Place of Residence

Region DefinitionMidwest (IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI)Northeast (CT, DC, DE, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT)Southeast (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV)Southwest (AZ, CO, NM, NV, OK, TX)West (AK, CA, HI, ID, MT, OR, UT, WA, WY)

Urban/Small City

19%

Suburban

47%

Rural

21%

Urban/Large City

13%


30

10

20

0Midwest Northeast Southeast Southwest West

16%

12%

27%

22%23%

Describe the area where you live.


n=500

U.S. Region

30

10

20

40

018-24

1%

25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65 or Older

5%

14%18%

23%

39%

Respondent Characteristics - Previous Dog Owners


Male

46%

Female

54%

Married

65%

Single, nevermarried

11%

Divorced orseparated

14%

Widowed

10%


n=500

Age

Caucasian

91%

Asian

2% Other

1%Hispanic

2%AfricanAmerican

4%

Ethnicity

30

10

20

0<$25K $25-50K $50-75K $75-100K $100-149K $150K+ N/A

13%11%

3%

9%

14%

21%

29%


None

83%

2

7%1

8%

3

1%4

1%

House

81%

Condo

4%

Apartment

9%

Townhouse

2% Other

3%Duplex

1%



n=500

Income

1

25%

2

61%

3

10%4

3%5+

1%

Adults in Household

Place of Residence


Urban/Small City

19%

Suburban

48%

Rural

21%

Urban/Large City

12%

30

10

20


24%

14%14%

25%23%



Region DefinitionMidwest (IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI)Northeast (CT, DC, DE, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT)Southeast (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV)Southwest (AZ, CO, NM, NV, OK, TX)West (AK, CA, HI, ID, MT, OR, UT, WA, WY)

n=500

U.S. Region

10

20

30

018-24

12%

25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65 or Older

21%23%

13%

9%

20%

Respondent Characteristics - Non-Owners


Male

54%

Female

46%

Married

52%

Single, nevermarried

33%

Divorced orseparated

10%

Widowed

5%

1

29%

2

48%

3

12%

4

7%5+

4%


Adults in Household

n=500

Age

30

10

20

0<$25K $25-50K $50-75K $75-100K $100-149K $150K+ N/A

19%

13%

6%7%9%

20%

26%


None

71%

2

13%

1

12%

3

3%4

1%

Caucasian

67%

Asian

10%

Other

3%Hispanic

6%AfricanAmerican

14%

House

59%

Condo

6%

Apartment

21%

Townhouse

6%Other

4%Duplex

4%

Children in Household Ethnicity

Place of Residence


n=500

Income


30

10

20


21%

22%

11%

26%

20%

Urban/Small City

22%Suburban

41%

Rural

14% Urban/Large City

23%

Region DefinitionMidwest (IA, IL, IN, KS,MI,MN,MO,ND,NE, OH, SD, WI)Northeast (CT, DC, DE, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT)Southeast (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV)Southwest (AZ, CO, NM, NV, OK, TX)West (AK, CA, HI, ID, MT, OR, UT, WA,WY)

52


n=500

U.S. Region

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The mission of American Humane Association is to ensure the welfare, wellness

and well-being of children and animals, and to unleash the full potential of the

bond between humans and animals to the mutual benefit of both.

We aim to measurably, demonstrably and significantly increase the number of

children and animals who are protected from harm – and the number of

humans and animals whose lives are enriched – through direct action, thought

leadership, policy innovation, and expansion of proven, effective programs.

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866-242-1877

www.americanhumane.org

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