Fur-Baby Boom
Pet parade.
We are – still – a nation of animal lovers. After taking a dip in the early 2000s, pet ownership in Australia is booming again, with about
5.7 million out of more than 9.2 million households having at least one pet, according to the latest survey by Animal Medicines Australia, a body representing the country’s animal health industry.
Across the nation, we share our lives and homes with approximately 4.76 million dogs, 3.88 million cats, 8.7 million fish,
4.1 million birds and 2.5 million other types of companion animals, covering species from reptiles to small mammals such as guinea pigs and rabbits.
With some 62 per cent of households in Australia having at least one critter, we have the third highest rates of pet ownership in the world, behind the USA, with 65 per cent, and New Zealand at 64 per cent, but well ahead of the UK, with just 40 per cent.
Over three years, from 2013 to 2016, our dog population rose by three per cent and our cat population by six per cent. And it seems Australians are also becoming more responsible pet owners – good on us! – with 78 per cent of dogs and 89 per cent of cats desexed, and 83 per cent and 72 per cent of them, respectively, microchipped.
The past five years have also seen a boom in the fairly new concept of pet insurance. Nearly one-in-four dog owners and one-infive cat owners have taken out a policy.
The bad news is that it’s becoming increasingly expensive to care for a cat or dog in Australia. The average cost of owning a dog is now about $1475 annually, with the major costs being food ($622), vet fees ($397) and over-the-counter healthcare products such as worm, flea and tick treatments ($248).
Cats are a little cheaper, with average costs at $1029 a year. That includes about $576 for food, $273 for vet fees and $159 for other healthcare products.
Extra expenditure for cats and dogs includes services such as training, grooming, walking and boarding kennels and catteries, plus products such as food bowls, litter trays and litter, collars, leads and toys.
Australians now spend a staggering
$4.2 billion on pet food every year, with 52 per cent of that for dogs and 37 per cent for cats. Increasingly, it’s being bought from specialty pet stores or online, rather than from a supermarket.
But where do we get our pets? The survey found that 36 per cent of Australian dog owners purchased their canine directly from a breeder, while 17 per cent acquired theirs from a friend or neighbour, 16 per cent from animal shelters and only 14 per cent from pet shops.
The situation is vastly different with cats: 25 per cent of felines come from animal shelters, 19 per cent are from friends and neighbours, and 15 per cent are taken in as strays. Just 13 per cent of cats were bought from breeders and 10 per cent from stores.
The remaining cats and dogs came from veterinary practices, were inherited from a relative, or obtained from other sources. But wherever they come from, animals should always go to a home where they’ll receive all the care and affection they need.