An estimated 28.7 million pets are now calling home to around 6.9 million households across Australia, and about 69 per cent of households across metropolitan, regional and remote Australia are now home to one or more pets, Animal Medicines Australia’s latest Pets in Australia study found.
Many of these people are first-time pet owners, having brought their pet into their homes during the pandemic.
Dogs and cats have led this sustained growth in pet ownership, with almost half of all households having at least one dog and a third of all households housing at least one cat, while the numbers of other pets have remained largely steady since 2019.
For many pet owners, typical reasons for getting a pet include companionship, rescuing animals, relaxation and mental health, with 85 per cent saying their pet had a positive impact on their physical and mental well-being.
“The research identified four distinct segments of pet owners. The largest cohort (30 per cent) is driven by affordability and convenience, meaning they are less likely to spend money on non-essential items. Others (25 per cent) – many of whom are retirees and empty nesters – are looking for simplicity and reliability to maintain a happy and well-cared animal companion,” AMA CEO, Ben Stapley said.
“For 27 per cent of pet owners – who are typically middle to higher income families – care and quality is a key driver in their approach to pet care, with them willing and able to spend money across all pet products and services, including preventative care. Interestingly the least experienced cohort – but arguably the ones more likely to have more pets – are driven to care and share experiences with their pets, even if it means stretching the budget.”
Despite the growth in ownership, housing constraints and costs are key barriers holding back would-be owners and current owners hoping to grow their ‘pack’. Current non-owners – particularly renters and apartment dwellers – are especially likely to point to unsuitable homes or issues with landlords, body corporates and strata laws as a reason not to bring a pet into their lives.
“In some circumstances, these challenges can lead to difficult decisions to find alternate care arrangements for a beloved pet,” Ben Stapley said.
“While a family member or friend remains the most popular choice for rehoming a pet if they can no longer care for it, more people are now likely to take their pet to a shelter (20 per cent, up from 15 per cent in 2019).
“This data paints a portrait of some people who are stretched thin and stressed out, dealing with increased living costs and having to give up their pets. It suggests a need for supporting services to help keep pet owners with their animals through difficult times, particularly given the findings regarding the mental health benefits of companion animals,” Ben Stapley said.
“To ensure that as many Australians as possible can access the myriad benefits associated with pet ownership, we seek a policy environment that facilitates responsible pet ownership practices,” AMA CEO, Ben Stapley said.
“This could be achieved by improving strata laws, providing support for vulnerable pet owners, or through greater national consistency in companion animal policy settings. We need to encourage informed and thoughtful decision-making by governments, policymakers and others when considering issues that impact Australia’s estimated 28.7 million pets in 6.9 million households,” Ben Stapley concluded.
