STUDY: 70% of Women View Their Pets

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This is one of my dogs after a surgery. She was always cold and her bladder leaked for about 2 weeks. My poor baby girl.

Did you know?

STUDY: 70% of Millennial Women View Their Pets as Children

According to Rover.com, many women view themselves as “dog moms” rather than owners. A study conducted by Veterinarians.org found that 70% of millennial women who chose not to have kids view their pets as children and treat them as such.

I can tell you, as a mom of biological, foster, adopted, and step kids- I also consider myself a fur mom. I never say “I own my dogs” or that I am an owner. I absolutely refer to them as my fur babies or 4 legged kids. I adore my dogs, as many of you know, and we do foster care and rehab for dogs of all ages and sizes. We love going to dog events, my dogs that get cold have sweaters, my small one has a backpack and a stroller we use for long days out that she can’t handle, and we have all manner of treats, toys, dog lotions for sore paws and hot spots and whatnot.

They are absolutely up to date on shots, get their heartworm pills, flea and tick treatments, and anything else in between. I love them and want them to be happy and comfortable- just like I would for my kids. Are they as loved or as important to me as my children? No, of course not. But they don’t give me any crapola, either! Ha.

So. What did the professionals find?

Key Findings:

69% of respondents say that having a pet is easier than having a child.
52% say it’s easier to find care for their pet if they need to leave their home for an extended period of time.
53% made a home purchase/renting decision based on whether there was enough outdoor space for their pet.
33% of Millennial home-buying decisions were chiefly driven by the buyer’s dog (outranking marriage and kids as incentives).
48% say the costs of caring for a pet are lower compared to children.
42% of respondents say pets are less stressful.
39% say that having a pet instead is less time-consuming.

Birth Rates in US Survey Highlights

42% of Millennial women who don’t plan to have children say the COVID-19 pandemic influenced their decision.
41% say they don’t want to raise a child in the world’s current conditions.
42% don’t feel there are enough programs and resources available (such as affordable healthcare and childcare) to help parents raise a child.
49% believe people with children are more stressed than people without children.
Among Millennial women who don’t want children, 70% of those with pets view their dog/cat as their child.
Among these pet owners, 69% say having a pet is easier than having a child.
48% of those with pets also say the costs of caring for a pet are lower than those for caring for a child.

While many believed the COVID-19 pandemic would fuel a ‘baby boom’ as couples found themselves spending more time together under lockdown, the opposite turned out to be true. In fact, according to data published by the CDC, birth rates in the U.S. reached a record low in 2020, showing a 4% decline in the number of U.S. births from the year prior. This figure is not only double the average yearly decline since 2014, but represents the lowest number of births since 1979.

However, this downward trend in births was noticeable even before the pandemic. Women, especially Millennial women, have been increasingly delaying motherhood to pursue careers and continuing education. Others have married later in life, or have put motherhood aside temporarily in the face of economic uncertainty.

There are also Millennial women who have opted out of motherhood altogether. We surveyed 400 of these women to explore their views on motherhood, children, and how domestic pets like dogs and cats may be the new ‘stand-in’ for children for millions of Millennial women around the U.S.

This study also discusses other reasons Millennial Women have decided to opt-out of motherhood. See the whole article here- there is a lot of food for thought. See it here- https://www.veterinarians.org/birth-rates-in-us/