Two-Thirds of American Pet Owners Are Bringing Their Pets to Bed
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) January 20, 2015 -- The Gary Michelson Found Animals Foundation (http://www.FoundAnimals.org), an independently funded non-profit working to find the big ideas that reduce euthanasia in shelters, reports that the rising trend of American pet owners treating their animals like family is showing no signs of slowing down in 2015. From pet insurance that covers everything from major surgery to massage, to the rise of pets replacing children in the lives of twenty-somethings, Michelson Found Animals has identified four areas where American households will increasingly cater to their pets this year:
• Products and services. An increase in the variety of products and services offered to pet owners has helped drive continued growth in the overall pet industry, which hit nearly $60 Billion in the US in 2014. Interestingly, the pet industry grew throughout the economic downturn and continues to outpace GDP growth. The biggest categories of pet spending in 2014 were: food - $23B, vet care - $15B, supplies - $14B and services - $5B.
• Pets replacing children. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that a drop in babies born to women ages 15 to 29 corresponds with an increase in small dogs owned by young women. In addition, a recent poll of divorce lawyers showed an increase in custody issues related to pets.
• More options in pet healthcare. Pet insurance is gaining popularity as medical options for pets expand to include advanced approaches in oncology, orthopedics and other specialties once unheard of for dogs and cats. Pet insurance premiums range from $10-$100 per month and cover everything from emergencies to Reiki.
• Better quality pet food. Nearly 25 percent of pet owners say they frequently or occasionally cook for their pet. 62 percent of pet owners check product labels on the food they buy to ensure their pet is getting the best possible nutrition
For more information on Michelson Found Animals, please visit FoundAnimals.org.
About Michelson Found Animals
The Michelson Found Animals Foundation, funded by Dr. Gary Michelson and his wife Alya Michelson, is a Los Angeles based non-profit organization that works to achieve one goal: find the big ideas that help reduce the number of pets euthanized in shelters each year. Led by business and medical professionals, we develop innovative solutions that address the underlying causes of shelter euthanasia. Programs address pet adoption, low-cost spay neuter services, pet microchipping and registration, and sterilization research. By offering a wealth of educational resources to pet owners and animal care professionals, Found Animals advances the health and safety of animals everywhere. Follow our progress online at FoundAnimals.org, or via social media at Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
For more information on the Michelson Prize & Grants: http://www.michelsonprizeandgrants.org
For more information on Found Animals Registry: http://www.found.org
For more information on Found Animals Adopt & Shop: AdoptAndShop.org
Monica Guzman, Konnect PR, http://www.konnect-pr.com, +1 (213) 988-8344, [email protected]
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