Posted: June 15, 2011, 3 a.m. EDT
More than three in five Americans (62 percent) own at least one pet according to Harris Interactive, whose figure also matched the overall pet ownership statistic from the American Pet Products Association’s National Pet Owners Survey 2011-2012.
According to the survey:
Of the Pet Owners:
- 69 percent own at least one or more dogs
- 51 percent own at least one or more cats
- 11 percent own fish
- 7 percent own birds
- 8 percent own some other type of pet
Of dog owners:
- 62 percent own one dog
- 25 percent own two
- 8 percent own three
- 4 percent own more than 4
Among other findings from the pet owners:
- 91 percent said they considered their pet to be a member of their family
- 57 percent reported they frequently let their pet sleep in bed with them
- 60 percent frequently or occasionally bought their pet a holiday present
- 36 percent who frequently or occasionally bought their pet a birthday present
- 16 percent reported either frequently or occasionally dressing their pet in some sort of clothing.
- 12 percent reported frequently cooking especially for their pet
The majority of respondents felt it was a good idea to have dogs in:
- Long-term care facilities (89 percent)
- Hospitals (72 percent)
- Prisons (60 percent)
But a bad idea to have dogs in:
- Professional offices (52 percent)
- University libraries (55 percent)