The pandemic and pet ownership:
a closer look
by Susan Doktor
The pandemic and pet ownership:
a closer look
by Susan Doktor
Take a look around your neighborhood. Are you seeing some unfamiliar canine and feline faces? Is the parade of pups and kittens getting longer out there?
According to the American Pet Products Association, 11.38 million U.S. households invited new pets into their lives since the global pandemic shut down social spots and found us seeking safety—and comfort–inside our homes.
A new study conducted by Money.com, in cooperation with leading research firm Morning Consult, dives into the reasons behind the sudden boom in pet ownership, with some surprising results.
A Cure to Loneliness?
Family gatherings have been canceled. Offices, gyms, restaurants and almost all other social spots have shut down. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that Money.com found that all this isolation has led people of all ages to jump into pet ownership, with the GenX and millennial generations leading in new pet acquisition.
More than half of survey respondents cited loneliness as their motivation for adopting or purchasing a pet during the pandemic.
This coupled with the amount of time we’re spending at home was a driving force in their decision to seek animal companionship: 72% of respondents stated that they’d always wanted a pet and the pandemic finally created the right circumstances.
It’s a silver lining: despite the difficult circumstances we’ve been living under, more people are realizing at least one long-held dream.
Because of this, pet shelters experienced an unprecedented and historic shortage of pets. Purebred breeders’ waiting lists, which have always been long, got longer.
But wherever they came from, more pets have found homes as a result of the coronavirus crisis—a light in the darkness that has otherwise cloaked the globe since last year.
Putting Our Money Where Our Hearts Are
While the survey demonstrated that pet owners aren’t necessarily spoiling their pets, it did show a correlation between a growing pandemic-fueled attachment with our pets and our willingness to spend more on pet healthcare for them.
A clear example: nearly 70% of the study’s subjects said they’d be willing to spend any amount of money to give their pet’s life-saving treatment. They’re also keeping up with regular wellness visits and vaccinations, too.
Speaking of…The past decade’s steady increase in the number of pets who are covered by pet insurance is expected to carry on, with analysts predicting double-digit growth in the pet insurance category this year.
Pets are costly and veterinary care comprises the greatest percentage of that expense. The best pet insurance plans cover prescription medicines for your mutt, lab tests for your Labrador, and life-saving surgeries and cancer care for their fuzzy customers. The good news is, and as more pet owners are learning, pet health insurance from TrustedPals can make all kinds of veterinary care more affordable. Compare policy options for your cat or dog and find a plan that suits your budget.
Could We Love Our Pets More?
According to the survey… Indeed, we can! More than half of survey respondents said they feel more love and show their pets more affection since they’ve been spending more time at home with them.
And this is love we needed. Over the past year, we’ve suffered losses. We’ve been tested emotionally and economically. There may not be many silver linings to the COVID-19 cloud, but more of us are reaching for—and discovering—the healing power of pets.
Scientifically proven and witnessed by countless personal stories, our pets’ contribution to our mental and physical well-being is one way we’re surviving these unprecedented times.
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According to the American Pet Products Association, 11.38 million U.S. households invited new pets into their lives since the global pandemic shut down social spots and found us seeking safety—and comfort–inside our homes.
A new study conducted by Money.com, in cooperation with leading research firm Morning Consult, dives into the reasons behind the sudden boom in pet ownership, with some surprising results.
Take a look around your neighborhood. Are you seeing some unfamiliar canine and feline faces? Is the parade of pups and kittens getting longer out there?
A Cure to Loneliness?
Family gatherings have been canceled. Offices, gyms, restaurants and almost all other social spots have shut down. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that Money.com found that all this isolation has led people of all ages to jump into pet ownership, with the GenX and millennial generations leading in new pet acquisition.
More than half of survey respondents cited loneliness as their motivation for adopting or purchasing a pet during the pandemic.
This coupled with the amount of time we’re spending at home was a driving force in their decision to seek animal companionship: 72% of respondents stated that they’d always wanted a pet and the pandemic finally created the right circumstances.
It’s a silver lining: despite the difficult circumstances we’ve been living under, more people are realizing at least one long-held dream.
Because of this, pet shelters experienced an unprecedented and historic shortage of pets. Purebred breeders’ waiting lists, which have always been long, got longer.
But wherever they came from, more pets have found homes as a result of the coronavirus crisis—a light in the darkness that has otherwise cloaked the globe since last year.
Putting Our Money Where Our Hearts Are
While the survey demonstrated that pet owners aren’t necessarily spoiling their pets, it did show a correlation between a growing pandemic-fueled attachment with our pets and our willingness to spend more on pet healthcare for them.
A clear example: nearly 70% of the study’s subjects said they’d be willing to spend any amount of money to give their pet’s life-saving treatment. They’re also keeping up with regular wellness visits and vaccinations, too.
Speaking of…The past decade’s steady increase in the number of pets who are covered by pet insurance is expected to carry on, with analysts predicting double-digit growth in the pet insurance category this year.
Pets are costly and veterinary care comprises the greatest percentage of that expense. The best pet insurance plans cover prescription medicines for your mutt, lab tests for your Labrador, and life-saving surgeries and cancer care for their fuzzy customers. The good news is, and as more pet owners are learning, pet health insurance from TrustedPals can make all kinds of veterinary care more affordable. Compare policy options for your cat or dog and find a plan that suits your budget.
Could We Love Our Pets More?
According to the survey… Indeed, we can! More than half of survey respondents said they feel more love and show their pets more affection since they’ve been spending more time at home with them.
And this is love we needed. Over the past year, we’ve suffered losses. We’ve been tested emotionally and economically. There may not be many silver linings to the COVID-19 cloud, but more of us are reaching for—and discovering—the healing power of pets.
Scientifically proven and witnessed by countless personal stories, our pets’ contribution to our mental and physical well-being is one way we’re surviving these unprecedented times.