One of the most common family members, there’s a pet in almost 70 per cent of households. According to the 2022 Pets in Australia: A National Survey of Pets and People report, dogs are our most popular choice. Forty-eight per cent of us have one pooch or more, followed by cats (which are occupants in a third of our households). Fish and birds are quite popular too and, to a lesser extent, small mammals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, mice and ferrets, reptiles and farm animals.
There are more pets in Australia than people, reveals the report, which is by AMA (Animal Medicines Australia) and SEC Newgate Research. In fact, we’re more likely to have a pet than our own human offspring! Making it an almost universal experience, it’s estimated 93 per cent of all Australians have had a pet at some point in their lives.
Living with a domestic canine, feline or other species is generally touted as positive and great for our
