A recent study found that approximately 72% of households in the United States own at least one pet. This amounts to about 85 million families across the nation. The most popular pets are dogs, with 48% of households having at least one, followed by cats at 38%. Interestingly, fish are the third most popular pet, present in 12% of households. Additionally, the study revealed that pet ownership is higher in rural areas compared to urban areas, with 60% of rural households having pets compared to 50% of urban households. The data also showed that pet owners tend to have higher levels of happiness and overall well-being compared to non-pet owners.
