According to a MetLife study, three out of four Americans say adopting a pet after a previous one died helped them cope with the loss.
The survey of 1,000 pet owners explored how they navigated the emotional, financial and practical decisions of bringing a new pet into their lives after a beloved companion’s death.
Insights about when and why pet owners adopt again included:
- More than 40% got a new pet before the other pet died.
- 1 in 10 added a new pet within four weeks of the passing.
- On average, respondents said the socially acceptable wait time before getting a new pet after a loss is two months.
- Over 25% said they delayed getting a new pet due to financial concerns.
- 75% said they did not feel guilt about adding a new pet too soon.
Regarding their new pets:
- 62% chose a pet of the same type and size.
- 14% chose a different species.
- Mixed breeds, Labrador retrievers and German shepherds were the most popular dog breeds chosen after a loss.
- Domestic shorthairs, mixed breeds and domestic longhairs were the most popular cat breeds chosen after a loss.
As for the financial aspects:
- Unexpected veterinary bills for a previous pet delayed 10% of the respondents from getting a new pet.
- Nearly 1 in 5 regretted not saving enough for emergencies, while 1 in 10 regretted not having pet health insurance.
- 1 in 5 invested in insurance for their new pets.
- Over 1 in 3 Generation Z pet owners invested in insurance after losing a pet.
- 1 in 3 dog owners purchased insurance after losing a pet, compared with 1 in 5 cat owners.
Additional details are available at bit.ly/4jgDjUB.
MetLife began selling pet health insurance in 2021.