Survey: UK Pet Parents Spend More on Pets Than Kids

Lori Ennis
by Lori Ennis
It’s no secret that the pet industry is booming, as birth rates are going down while pet ownership rates are on the rise. A new survey out of England claims that dog owners spend more on their pets than they do on their own children.


In England, it’s estimated that dog parents spend approximately £199 a month on their pets (approximately $244 US dollars) for supplies and care, totalling about £2400 (or nearly $3,000 US) a year. This money is spent on things such as food, vet services, training, grooming and toys, among other things.


Specialized dog food manufacturer Tails.com polled dog owners and found that over half the pet parents polled admitted to spening more on their dog’s care each month than on their (human) child’s care. About 78% of animal owners also admitted that they cared more about their pet’s health and well-being than they did their own, and some are calling England a nation of Pet Parents, rather than simply pet ‘owners.’


Related: Pet Parents Being Offered Paw-ternity Leave From Employers


The survey also discovered that over half of those who have admitted to calling in sick to work have done so in order to take care of their dog, while nearly three-quarter of those surveyed admitted they took their pet to the vet more often than they saw their own doctor.


Tails.com Head Veterinarian Dr. Sean McCormack says that England is a nation of dog lovers and as dogs are part of families, it’s natural they are treated as family members with similar worries and expense. According to their findings, the average pet parent spends approximately two hours a day worrying about their dog, with nearly 80% surveyed saying that at the end of the work day, they rush home from work to see their dog. A whopping 86% of dog owners polled admitted that they miss their dogs during the day and nearly 40% have some sort of monitor and activity tracker/brain training opportunities at home for their dogs while they are separated.


Related: Lazy London Pet Parents In For A Crappy Surprise


The information shows that pet owners in England love their dogs deeply, and look for ways to not only keep their pets healthy and happy, but to consistently make that their goal. Seeing as dogs are man’s best friend, we find that goal quite worthwhile!





Lori Ennis
Lori Ennis

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