Dog 44.8
Cat 38.4
Freshwater Fish 14.2 <------------------- (I am one of them)
Bird 6.4
Small Animal 6.0
Reptile 4.8
Equine 4.3
Saltwater Fish .8
Total Number of Pets Owned in the U.S. (millions)
Freshwater Fish 142 <------------------- (Over 70 of them are from me)
Cat 88.3
Dog 74.8
Small Animal 24.3
Bird 16
Equine 13.8
Reptile 13.4
Saltwater Fish 9.6
Guess which kind of pet owners are spending the most? A manager who works for petwarehouse.com claim their aquarium sector is the strongest due to the most numerous pet is the fish.
Wait, you have 70 million fish in that percentile, or just 70 fish? Lol.
I've only had small experiences with goldfish myself...and attempting to catch them from the river, but I never knew that people spent so much on aquariums! My grandfather built his own make-shift pond for his goldfish, and built my ex-uncle (divorced) a similar kind with a fountain, so I don't think a lot of cash went into it apart from the pumps, filters, plants, etc. That's mind-blowing.
Over 70 fish, not over 70 million haha.
My initial investment on just one 40 gallon acrylic tank along with all the equipments, substrate, plants, fish, were well over $1000.
Cats and dogs top the list in popularity, but if you looks closely at the figures above you will notice that cats now outnumber dogs for sheer numbers owned, yet there are more households with dogs than with cats. It's is believed that this is because there are more households with multiple cats than with multiple dogs. More cats, more food bowles and litterboxes. More dogs, a LOT more dogwalking!
I keep telling people that adopting a pet is just like adopting a child (being responsable for their safety and wellbeing), but it is also expensive (though you don't have to send them to college).
Nope, no college but many people, and their dog, could benefit from obedience classes. Yes, I have said many times when you get a pet you are responsible for that pets health & safety.
(04-13-2012, 12:02 AM)bw Wrote: I have said many times when you get a pet you are responsible for that pets health & safety.
I totally agree. It goes both ways. Pets definitely bring the owners benefits, and we should make sure they are also healthy and safe.
Some people seem to take their pets as toys, and to them the purpose of pets is only to please them. This is especially true with fish. Some people don't seem to care when I tell them what they are doing will kill the fish. They don't listen and simply say "the fish must be old" when their fish eventually died due to mistreatment (no filter system, no heater, etc.). Not everyone likes to listen to the correct advices. Some of them even see pet as replaceable toys. There is no way "too old" when a Betta fish die in just 1~2 months while it could have lived for 4~7 years. Most fish sold on the market are very young.
I find it kind of interesting that although those statistics are from the US the rankings would be about the same for New Zealand. Of course though there are less pets here as New Zealand only has a population of 4.3 million.
I believe that you're right and fish owners spend the most. My dad and I once looked at the big aquariums you can buy and some of the exotic fish and it would be easy to spend thousands!
I think one reason why there are more cats than dogs in a household is simply that cats breed faster and more easily than dogs.
A bitch comes into heat only once in every six months. A tabby is nearly always ready for business. Plus dogs are very often kept on leashes whereas a cat on a leash is the exception. So the chances for dogs to find a mate is very limited while cats go in and out as they please.
Of course, size must be a factor, too. You can fit more cats in the same space than dogs, generally speaking.
(06-14-2012, 08:45 PM)Victor Leigh Wrote: I think one reason why there are more cats than dogs in a household is simply that cats breed faster and more easily than dogs.
A bitch comes into heat only once in every six months. A tabby is nearly always ready for business. Plus dogs are very often kept on leashes whereas a cat on a leash is the exception. So the chances for dogs to find a mate is very limited while cats go in and out as they please.
Of course, size must be a factor, too. You can fit more cats in the same space than dogs, generally speaking.
I agree with you! I also think cats are more popular and people have more cats as most are more independent than dogs. Owning a cat takes slightly less commitment as cats entertain themselves and don't need to be walked every day ect...
I once had a goldfish that lived almost ten years. I got him when I was five, and he died when I was in high school. I'm pretty sure my parents didn't do the "replace the dead fish" thing - "Goldie" (I know, lame name, but I was five...) had a tiny black spot near his tail fin, and the spot was always there. I think it helped that my dad was experienced with fish (he had aquariums for years) so he made sure I took proper care of Goldie.
I have some sort of fish and it hates other fish. It has even tried to attack me from outside the bowl. It is a small little fish though so it doesn't matter great post though.
(I am one of them)
I also think cats are more popular and people have more cats as most are more independent than dogs. Owning a cat takes slightly less commitment as cats entertain themselves and don't need to be walked every day ect...
