Demographics of Pet Presence and Attachment

Pet presence (ownership) and attachment interview items were appended to a statewide telephone survey of more than 1,800 adults to obtain a demographic profile of pet presence and attachment in a Midwestern state in the United States. Pet presence in the adults' households increased from 54% for the 18–25 year-olds to 71% for the 36–45 year-olds and declined to 37% for those more than 65 years old. Pet presence was associated with larger families, rural residences, family income, and marital status. In contrast, companion animal bonding scores were higher for adults in smaller families, urban residents, divorced adults, and those who mentioned a dog first when asked about their pets.