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Ownership Trends 08 Print E-mail

Many trends have emerged in our pet population statistics, an insight into the pet purchasing trends in the UK are outlined below;

  • There are 27 million pets in the UK with dogs and cats being the animal of choice for pet lovers with over 7.3 and 7.2 million across the UK respectively. (For the UK’s Top Ten Pets click here)
  • 60% of single people in the UK buy a pet for companionship – 39% of whom have replaced their partner with a pet
  • 21% of owners bought their pet for companionship, compared to only 5% who have their pet for security
  • 39% of London’s pet owners purchase their pet for companionship, despite having 7.5 million neighbours across the city.

    To view the reasons for the choice
    of pet please select the chart

  • 21% of pet owners have wanted a pet since childhood, and almost of half of people living in the North East have wanted a pet since their early years
  • The East Midlands has the most pet lovers, with 14% of the pet population living in the heart of the UK, compared to only 4% of the population residing in Wales.

    To view regional pet population
    statistics click here

  • Over a quarter (27%) of the UK’s pets were bought or acquired from an animal welfare or rescue centre compared to 20% from a pet shop

    To view where pets are aquired
    from please select the chart

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 08 April 2009 )
 
Did you know


Dog ownership is highest amoungst families and people aged between 
35 - 64
years old. To view how many dogs there are in the UK
click here.