National Pet Week is quickly approaching (May 3-9) and this is the perfect time to celebrate the bond we share with our pets. To help celebrate National Pet Week and strengthen the bond between pets and their owners, we’d like to offer the following tips from the Iams Pet Wellness Council on how to strengthen and promote responsible pet ownership:
Create a routine for playtime with your pet. Use National Pet Week to start that routine, such as playing hide and seek or fetch with its toys.
While nearly half of all cat owners (48 percent*) say that their cats usually sleep with them at night. Experts advise pet owners to be aware of the side effects of doing so, as studies show, that pet owners lose sleep.
Feed your pets premium nutrition such as Iams or Eukanuba that packs in the ingredients your pet needs to stay happy and healthy. Healthy pets are happier in the long run and they will love you back.
Make sure your living space is safe for your pets. Certain plants are toxic to pets, for example. Be aware of hazards indoors such as unsecured doors and accessible cleaning supplies.
Here are some more incredible statistics on pet ownership from the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA) 2007-2008 National Pet Owners Survey:
Dogs
There are approximately 74.8 million owned dogs in the United States
Thirty-nine percent of U.S. households own at least one dog
Most owners (63 percent) own one dog
Twenty-five percent of owners own two dogs
Twelve percent of owners own three or more dogs
On average, owners have almost two dogs (1.7)
The proportion of male to female dogs is even
Ten percent of owned dogs were adopted from an animal shelter
On average, dog owners spent $219 on veterinary visits (vaccine, well visits) annually
Seventy-five percent of owned dogs are spayed or neutered
Cats
There are approximately 90 million owned cats in the United States
Nearly 36 percent of U.S. households (or 38.4 million) own at least one cat
Fifty-six percent of owners own more than one cat
On average, owners have two cats (2.3)
More female cats are owned than male cats (73 percent vs. 63 percent respectively)
Eighteen percent of owned cats were adopted from an animal shelter
Cat owners spent an average of $175 on routine veterinary visits
Eighty-seven percent of owned cats are spayed or neutered
