PET OWNERSHIP

• Percentage of households owning cats: 34
• Number of households owning cats: 34.7 million
• Number of owned cats: 73 million
• Percentage of households owning dogs: 39
• Number of households owning dogs: 40 million
• Number of owned dogs: 73 million
• Number of households owning reptiles or amphibians in 2000: 3.9 million
• Percentage increase in the number of U.S. households owning reptiles or amphibians between 1994 and 2000: More than 40

Source: National Pet Owners Survey 2001-2002, American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. The survey was conducted in 2000 using a series of mail-in questionnaires.

PET OVERPOPULATION

• Number of cats and dogs entering shelters each year: 8-10 million
• Number of cats and dogs euthanized by shelters each year: 4-5 million
• Number of cats and dogs adopted from shelters each year: 3-5 million
• Number of cats and dogs reclaimed by owners from shelters each year: 600,000-750,000
• Percentage of dogs in shelters who are purebred: 25

Source: Estimates from The Humane Society of the United States.

SOURCES OF PETS

• Percentage of Owners Who Acquired Cats:

• From Friend/Relative: 39
• As Strays: 29
• From Animal Shelter: 20
• As Kitten of Own Cat: 14
• From Newspaper/Private Party: 9
• From Pet Store: 5
• As Gifts: 5
• From Breeder: 5
• From Veterinarian: 4
• Other: 5

• Percentage of Owners Who Acquired Dogs:

• From Friend/Relative: 33
• From Breeder: 24
• From Animal Shelter: 20
• From Newspaper/Private Party: 16
• From Pet Store: 9
• As Strays: 8
• As Gifts: 6
• As Puppy of Own Dog: 6
• From Veterinarian: 1
• Other: 4

Source: National Pet Owners Survey 2001-2002, American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. The survey was conducted in 2000 using a series of mail-in questionnaires.

DOG BITES

• Number of people bitten by dogs each year: 4.5 million, or nearly 2% of the U.S. population
• Number of people killed by dog attacks each year: Between 10 and 20

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.